Most interesting of all is the massive and
beautifully carved stone gate ‘The Nagpuri gate’in the new fort and a round
room, in which a well had been sunk to provide a supply of drinking water incase of a
siege.The Auranga river flows close by. There are high hills and dense jungles all around.
On the frontier, there were three great Forts, viz, Kothi,Kunda and Devagan , and it was
against these that Daud khan proceeded to march.
He left Patana with a strong force on April 3, 1660. He reached Kothi,
6 miles south of Imamganj in the south of Gaya district on May 5, only to find that enemy
had abandoned it. He than moved on to Kunda, a strong hill fort, 14 miles south-south
east, but this short distance took his army just a month to traverse. This shows how the
area was covered with dense forests and wild animals. But Doud khan determined to advance
methodically and to secure a safe line of communication. He set his army to clear the
jungle and make a road. On June 3, he reached Kunda and found that this fort also had been
in evacuated. He razed the fort to the ground and than he camped his army, as further
advanced was prevented by the approach of to rains. he fortified the encampments being
built at short distances between Kothi and Kunda in each of which he placed a garrison.
On October 25, at the end of the rains, the army 6,400 strong, resumed
its march,but the progress was very slow owing to the very cautious tactics of Daud khan.
A large body of pioneers was sent ahead to clear the forest and to make a road. Out posts
were established along the line of March. Every evening entrenchment were thrown up round
the camp to prevent surprise attacks at night. In nine day the army had only advanced
twenty mile, reaching Lohersi near Amanat river on November 3. Here some time was spent in
fruitless negotiations but by December 9, Daud khan had penetrated within two miles of
Palamu. The cheros, advancing from the forts , threw up entrenchments and prepared to make
a final stand.
Daud khan then offered the Chero Raja the final terms of the Emperor,
viz. that he should submit, embrace Islam and hold his state as a tributary chief. Before
a reply was received one of Daud khan’s captains unable suppress the eagerness of his
soldiers attacked the enemy’s outworks on December 17.Daud Khan, hearing of the
engagement, pushed forward with the rest of his force, threw up entrenchments within the
enemys fire, and commenced a bombard ment, which lasted till sunset and put an end to the
fighting. During the night, the cheros brought two large canons from the fort, and
mounting them on their bastions completely dominated Daud Khans trenches which were on a
lower level. The Muslims were equal to the emergency. They spotted a hill overlooking
enemys position and dragged their guns up the hill opened fire and quickly silenced the
enemr.
The fighting had now lasted three days and the Cheros unable to hold
their position, retreated to the banks of the river and proceeded to erect breastworks
along the line of hills running parallel to them and to barricade the passes. Daud Khan
following the same plan of clearing the country as he advanced, spent two or three days in
felling the forest which intervened between him and the enemy, and then ordered a general
advance. After a stubborn fight of Six hours duration the Cheros fled into the fort.
It had been Daud’s original plan to occupy the trenches dug by the
enemy, and commence a siege. But the Muslim soldiers could not check their fury, and
rushing to the river they crossed it and attacked the fortifications which surrounded the
town at foot of the fort. The Cheros withdrew to the higher fort, where the Raja, who had
sent his whole family and valuables away to the jungles, continued the defence. The
imperialists, in the meantime, had taken the lower fortifications and stood before the
gate of the upper fort, where the fight raged, till the first watch of the evening. Half a
watch later, the Raja fled to the jungle, whole fort was occupied by Daud’s army .The
town was cleared of the Hindus, their temples were destroyed and the prayer for
Allah’s glory filled the place.
The capture of the forts of Palamau in practically ended the struggle.
The Cheros succeed in maintaining the fort of Devgan for some time longer. But they were
quickly expelled by a force sent by Daud khan. The Muslim conquest was complete. Daud khan
remained for some time fortifying several strong holds and arranging for the
administration of the country and then returned to Patna, leaving Palamu in charge of
Mankali khan a muslim Fauzdar. The letter was removed in 1666. Palamau was then placed
under the direct control of the Viceroy of Bihar, Lasker khan, the new Bihar Governor.
Thus since 1666 came under the direct control of the Viceroy of the Emperor in Bihar.
Muslim historians have made an error in supposing that these invasions were in the time of
Pratap Ray Instead of Anant Ray. Bradley –Birt also followed the foot steps of the
Muslim historians, as he had also mentioned Pratap Ray and not Anant Ray. The error was
due to the fact that Pratap Ray took the leading part in opposing the imperial forces and
in offering the Peshkash (tribute). During the Muslim rule was there was practically no
interference. There were only some occasional risings.
Bhupal Ray came to the throne in 1661 only for four months. Many
historians have missed him. Nothing untoward appears to have occurred during his short
reign. |
