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BHANGA SINGH


Sirdar Bhanga Singh was a prominent leader of Karorsinghia Misl. In January 1764, he captured the area between the river Sarasvati and Kurukashetra. His brother Bhag Singh possessed Pehowa. In 1779, he joined hands with Abdul Ahd Khan, the Mogul ruler, Bhai Baghel Singh and Bhai Rai Singh (Buria), and besieged Patiala (ruled then by Amar Singh). Raja Amar Singh met Baba Baghel Singh and made a compromise. In January 1786, Bhanga Singh, along with some other Sikh generals, attacked Merrut, Hapur and the adjoining areas. In January 1791, he attacked Anup Shahar and arrested the English Lt. Col. Robert Stuart (the latter remained in his confinement at Thanesar for about nine months. He was released after the British paid him sixty thousand rupees as ransom). In 1795, he captured Karnal. In 1803, he joined Lord Lake in attack on Delhi. In 1806, (Maharaja) Ranjit Singh visited him at Thanesar. Bhanga Singh died in 1815. He was succeeded by his son Fateh Singh. His daughter Karam Kaur was married to (Maharaja) Karam Singh of Patiala. Bhanga Singh’s son Fateh Singh died issue-less in 1819. As Fateh Singh was under the British protectorate, so, after his death, one half of his territory was confiscated by the British and the other half remained with Hassan Kaur (widow of Bhanga Singh). Bhanga Singh was one of those Sikh generals who were among the most dreaded by the British.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)