Sikh Invasion of Rohilkhand

Sikh Invasion of Rohilkhand
Part of the Sikh Invasions of Ganga-Yamuna
Ganga-Yamuna Doab
Date February, 1764 Location Upper Doab, India Result Sikh victory
Belligerents
Sikh Confederacy	Kingdom of Rohilkhand
Commanders and leaders
Jassa Singh Ahluwalia Baghel Singh Tara Singh Ghaiba Khushal Singh Singhpuria	Najib ad-Dawlah
Strength
40,000 Horsemen	Unknown

The Sikh Invasion of Rohilkhand was the first Sikh Incursion in the neighbouring Doab. It took place right after the Sikh Conquest of Sirhind 1764, where the Durrani Governor Zain Khan Sirhindi was killed. Driven by this victory, Sikhs under the leadership of Jassa Singh Ahluwalia invaded the Upper Doab. 

Background

After the Afghan lords of Kasur were heavily defeated in May of 1763, the city was sacked. The Jalandhar Doab suffered the same fate by June. On the banks of the Chenab River, Abdali's commander-in-chief, Jahan Khan, faced a defeat in November of that year. Malerkotla was too attacked and sacked in December. The Province of Sirhind was attacked early in January 1764, and on January 14, 1764, Zain Khan, the Governor of Sirhind, was defeated and killed. At this time, the Sikhs made themselves the rulers of Punjab and decided to raid the Gangetic Doab.

Invasion

Under the leadership of Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, Khushal Singh Singhpuria, Baghel Singh, Karora Singh, Sham Singh, Tara Singh Ghaiba, Gurbakhsh Singh, Bhanga Singh, Karam, and Rai Singh with a force of approximately 40,000 cavalry, the Sikhs crossed the Yamuna for the first time. Miskin, an eyewitness who had lately joined Najib's forces, writes:

In that year, 40,000 of their horsemen crossed the Jumna and disturbed and looted the Saharanpur and Meerut districts.

On the 20th, February 1764 they sacked Saharanpur, and then attacked Shamli and Kandhia, plundering as far as Anupshahr. The Sikhs inflicted devastation to the region, seized individuals for ransom, and obtained huge amounts of plunder, including money, gold, and diamonds.

Aftermath

In reaction to the disaster, the Nawab of Rohilkhand, Najib ad-Dawlah who had recently won against King Suraj Mal of Bharatpur, found himself anticipating the revenge from Suraj Mal's son, Jawahar Singh, Najib quickly organized his soldiers and approached the Sikh raiders. To confront the threat posed by the Sikhs, Najib-ud-daulah entered into negotiation talks and agreed to pay tribute of eleven lakh rupees. The occurrence of Abdali in the Punjab area encouraged the Sikh decision to accept the bribe, which resulted in their departure to their homeland in early March.