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LAL SINH, MISR


Lal Chand (Sinh), son of Jassa Mall (Mishra Pandit), was born at Sanghoi (district Jhelum, Pakistan). In 1832, he joined the Lahore Darbar. Lal Sinh was a cunning person. Soon, he joined the group of Dhian Sinh Dogra and got his job confirmed. In 1840, Hira Sinh Dogra appointed him as the caretaker of the State Treasury. In 1843, Lal Sinh shifted his loyalty to Rani Jindan. He came so close to Rani Jindan that, in 1845, he was appointed as a minister. He was also the Commander of the army. Once again he shifted his loyalty from Rani Jindan to the British.

Misr Lal Sinh was one of those persons who destroyed the empire of Ranjit Singh. During the Anglo-Sikh wars, he collaborated with the British and provided them all secret information about the Sikh army. During the battle of Mudki (December 18, 1845), he treacherously deserted the Sikh army and fled the battlefield. During the battle of Sabhraon (February 10, 1846), he gave all the sensitive details of the Sikh army to the British. The British suitably rewarded him. But when the British came to know that he had joined conspiracy against Gulab Sinh Dogra, he was stripped off his office. He was given a pension of rupees 12000 per year and was sent to Agra, where he died in 1866.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)