Ajit Singh ( ? – 16.9.1843), son of Bhai Basawa Singh, was a collateral of (Maharaja) Ranjit Singh. Maharaja Ranjit Singh had given him several benefits. He envied the Dogras and wanted to acquire absolute power. When Dogras succeeded in installing Naunihal Singh as Maharaja and thus acquiring absolute power, he turned against the Dogras. During the dispute between Maharaja Sher Singh and Maharani Chand Kaur, he sided with Chand Kaur and the Dogras supported Sher Singh. Finally, Sher Singh occupied Lahore throne on January 18, 1841. After Sher Singh’s installation Atar Singh fled Lahore and went to the British territory. During all this period Lehna Singh was completely in touch with Atar Singh. In March 1841, a letter written by Atar Singh to Lehna Singh was intercepted. The letter asked Lehna Singh Sandhanwalia and Kehar Singh Sandhanwalia to reach the river Sutlej along with their troops. Maharaja Sher Singh sent his own troops to arrest both of them. They were brought to Lahore. They were sent to prison. In the meantime, the British mediated and got Atar Singh and Ajit Singh Sandhanwalia apology of (Maharaja) Sher Singh. After this Ajit Singh and Atar Singh were allowed to return to Lahore. In May 1843, Ajit Singh reached Lahore. He, however, did not change himself. On September 15, 1843, when Sher Singh was inspecting troops at Baradari (Lahore fort), Ajit Singh gunned him down. On the other side Lehna Singh severed the head of Kanwar Partap Singh. The same day he killed Dhian Sinh Dogra during discussion over sharing of power. Hira Sinh, son of Dhian Sinh and his uncle Suchet Sinh Dogra, along with the battalion of General Avitable, attacked Lahore Fort, on September 16, 1843 and killed Ajit Singh Sandhanwalia and Lehna Singh Sandhawalia. Their heads were severed and their bodies were cut into pieces to be hanged in different parts of the city. The fort and the residences of Sandhanwalias were razed to ground. (Atar Singh, Ajit Singh’s uncle, was killed on May 7, 1844, at Naurangabad). Also see: Atar Singh, Bir Singh.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)