history of jammu and kashmir rifles

een outwitted by the Gyalpo. Halting further operation he apprised his ruler Raja Gulab Singh, of the
development and requested him for fresh instructions in view of the Company's supposed involvement
in Ladakh. The Raja in turn applied to the Maharaja of Punjab and it was well over a month before the
Lahore Durbar could have the matter cleared with the East India Company and pass on their
contradiction of the story to the Dogra General through the Jammu Raja. By this time, however,
Ladakh was completely in the throes of winter and just the time for a Ladakhi counteroffensive.9
The Ladakhi offensive finally opened with treachery. Banka Kahlon feigned a desire for negotiations
and sent his envoys with this message to the Dogra camp. Zorawar Singh who was not too keen to
restart his advance during the winter welcomed the move and, on a suggestion made by the Ladakhi
envoys, agreed to send his own representatives to the Ladakhi camp for further talks. The Kahlon,
however, had no intention of starting any dialogue and even as the Dogra envoys were proceeding
towards the Ladakhi camp, he with his main force was moving to the rear of the Dogras by a circuitous
route. When the Dogra representatives for talks reached the Ladakhi camp, they were treacherously
killed and thrown into the river, and before the Dogras could learn of this they were heavily attacked
from their rear by the Ladakhis under Banka. The Dogras were taken completely by surprise and
many fell into the hands of the Ladakhis as prisoners, ultimately to be thrown into the river with hands
and feet tied. The Dogras reeled under the impact of this sudden attack and Zorawar Singh was
compelled to retreat to Lang Kartse and take shelter in the fort of the Thi Sultans. Strangely he was
not pursued by the Ladakhis nor bothered by them any more during his stay at Lang Kartse for the
next four winter months. Apparently although Zorawar's force had been thrown off balance there had
been no rout as such. The force was still intact and beyond the capabilities of the Ladakhi Army, at
that strength, to tackle.
While the Dogras lay low during winter, the Ladakhis utilized the time in swelling their ranks through
fresh mobilizations. Greatly reinforced, they finally advanced on Lang Kartse in April 1835 while the
countryside was still covered with snow. This time, however, they were in for a surprise from the
Dogras. In a pre-emptive move the Dogras attacked the Ladakhis even as they were still planning
their attack. The Dogras used their swords for effect and put the whole Ladakhi force to rout. About
1200 were taken prisoners. The total casualties suffered by the Ladakhis, in killed and wounded, is
not recorded. It is only known that at least 400 perished due to fall of a snow-bed alone. The back of
the Ladakhi Army was certainly broken and what remained of it now retreated towards Mulbekh, while
the Dogras moved up to Pashkyum for the second time.
From Pashkyum the Dogras made a speedy march to Shergol and thence to Mulbekh. On hearing
of the Dogra advance the Ladakhis retired still further towards Leh, generally maintaining a two days'
lead over their pursuers. The Dogras were able to maintain a speed of advance as good as that of the
retreating Ladakhis, because of the help rendered to them by the Purig Chiefs, who themselves had
scores to settle with the Tsepal. On reaching Mulbekh, however, the pursuit was discontinued and
Zorawar Singh halted here for 15 days, probably for administrative reasons. From Mulbekh he then
marched to Kharbu and thence to Lama Yaru where he was met by an envoy of Tsepal suing for
peace. A meeting between the King and Wazir Zorawar Singh was then held at Bozgo wherein the
terms of Ladakhi surrender were settled. At Bozgo the Wazir was escorted only by 100 Dogras under
Mehta Basti Ram, the entire Dogra Army remaining at Lama Yam. Alter about ten days' stay at Bozgo
the King and the Wazir moved to Leh where other formalities were completed. Zorawar Singh then
stayed at Leh for four months at the end of which he restored the kingdom of Ladakh to Tsepal. The
kingdom henceforth was, however, to be the vassal state of the Dogra kingdom of Jammu. The
reinstated Gyafpo promised to pay, in return, an indemnity of Rs 20,000. After negotiating the final
treaty with Tsepal Namgyal, Zorawar Singh withdrew to Lama Yaru. Here he got the news that the
Chief of Sod whose castle had been bombarded by the Dogras, had rebelled. The Chief had marched
against the Dogra fort at Suru and put to death the entire garrison of fifty five. Zorawar Singh rushed
to Sod by forced marches but the rebels had by then dispersed. He spent fifteen days at Sod sorting
out matters and also gaining intelligence about the rebels. Then learning of a rebel concentration at
Suru he marched towards it, reaching there in two days. The rebels were taken completely by surprise
and thirteen of them were captured before the group broke up and fled; Then by announcing a reward
of Rs 50 for every rebel soldier that the locals may hand over to him, he collected some 200 of them
who were all beheaded and their bodies hung on trees for others to see and learn a lesson. After this
the Zamindars of the district quickly tendered their submission and accepted the land settlement made
by Zorawar Singh.
This revolt was evidently engineered by Sardar Mian Singh, the Governor of Kashmir. With the
occupation of Ladakh by the Dogras the shawl wool from Ladakh began to be directed to Punjab via
Kishtwar and Jammu resulting in a loss of revenue to Kashmir. This was, however, not the only
reason for Mian Singh's involvement. The usual jealousies among the Durbar grandees could also
have been at play. There is not the slightest doubt that Gulab Singh had the approval of Maharaja
Ranjit Singh in all that he was doing in Ladakh (including the diversion of the shawl wool) but even
then Mian Singh carried on his clandestine activity against the Dogra rule in Ladakh, for some time to
come.
After subduing the Chief of Sod, Zorawar Singh left Suru and proceeded to Jammu around
September 1835. On the way he halted at Zanskar for some time to make a tax settlement, which was
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