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Battle of Chhaparh Jhiri
Battle of Chhaparh Jhiri was fought between the Sikhs under the patronage of Banda Bahadur and the Mughal army under Wazir Khan.

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Battle of Chhaparh JhiriBanda Singh Bahadur made many plans to consolidate his hold on nearby Muslim towns and large villages around Sirhind. His minor battles like Sonepat, Kaithal, Samana, Ghuram, Thaska, Thanesar, Shahbad, Kapuri and Sadhaura, etc. helped him to plan for bigger battles. Wazir Khan had an army of about 20,000 men of all ranks, cavalry, musketeers, archers, artillery. With these they too gave a tough fight to the Sikhs and check their advance towards Sirhind. The Sikh army was far smaller than the Mughal army. Banda Bahadur chose a mound with mangroves on both sides and a pond in front with marshy land on the other end. From here he would watch his army fighting and then would personally join the battle when required. On 22 May 1710 the Mughal army attacked the Sikhs at Chhaparh Jhiri about 25 km outside Sirhind.

The Mughal army under Wazir Khan possessed a huge army with a large number of elephants, mounted gunnery, archers, lancers and swordsmen. However, the Sikh army under Banda Bahadur had no elephants, no artillery but possessed long spears, arrows, swords and unbounded courage to fight against the Mughal army. Before the battle the Sikh volunteers from Doaba and Majha joined the Sikh forces. The huge Mughal army took a heavy toll on the Sikhs. Soon Banda Bahadur feeling the pressure on his army rushed to join his army. Soon Wazir Khan was captured and his head was chopped off by Banda Bahadur. The Mughal army ran for their lives leaving behind them a large number of arms and ammunition. Banda Bahadur and his men carried out the last rites of the fallen Sikhs at the battle site before entering the city. The body of Wazir Khan was hung from a nearby tree upside down and later burnt.

On 24 May 1710 the victorious Sikh army entered Sirhind. Large scale plundering went on for three days. The Khalsa flag was hoisted on the fort of Sirhind. Banda Bahadur established his own government in Sirhind. Baj Singh was appointed governor of Sirhind. Baba Ali Singh as Naib (Assistant), Fateh Singh in the post of faujdar of Samana. Binod Singh and Ram Singh were jointly appointed governors of Thanesar. Many other Hindu officials were appointed in various subordinate posts replacing the Muslim officials. The battle of Sirhind is considered the first major battle fought and won by the Sikhs against the Mughal forces.

The place where the last rites of about 5,000 Sikh army men were performed stands sanctified by the local population. The mound and the mangroves and the chhaparh stand till today in memory of the historic fight between the Sikhs and Wazir Khan.


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