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JASPAT RAI


Diwan Jaspat Rai, brother of Lakhpat Rai (a Hindu minister of Yahiya Khan), was the military chief of Eimanabad (district Gujranwala). In those days, the Mogul regime hag issued orders of killing of all the Sikhs. The Sikhs had to take refuge in the hills or in the forests. During this period, in January-February 1746, a Jatha of the Sikhs had taken refuge in a thicket, near the village Baddoke Gusaian. When Jaspat Rai came to know it, he attacked the thicket. In the battle Bhai Nibahu Singh Ranghreta, catching hold of the tail of the elephant Jaspat was riding, climbed on the back of the elephant and chopped off head of Jaspat Rai. When Jaspat was killed his army fled the scene immediately. The Sikhs took the head of Jaspat with themselves. Kirpa Ram, a teacher of Jaspat paid rupees five hundred to the Sikhs to get the head of Jaspat for cremation. After the death of Jaspat, Lakhpat Rai became a sworn enemy of the Sikhs. He killed more than ten thousand Sikhs in 1746-47. The Sikhs punished Lakhpat Rai in 1748.

(Dr. Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)