history of jammu and kashmir rifles

number of Sher Singh's guns were silenced for good. Sher Singh's men then tried an ingenious
method of protecting their guns from the fire of the defenders. Knowing that Dogra chivalry did not
permit firing on women, they seized some 1200 of them from their houses and forced them to stand
around the guns. The trick, however, failed as the Dogra substituted gun fire with rifle fire and being
skilled marks-men, they fired so accurately that while nearly 200 of Sher Singh's gunners were picked
out and killed only 19 women lost their lives in the process. As the going got tough for Sher Singh, he
sent for Dhyan Singh to open negotiations with Gulab Singh. Hostilities which had lasted five days
ceased on the arrival of Dhyan Singh. Under the agreement that followed, Sher Singh was recognized
as the Maharaja while honour and security were guaranteed to Mai Chand Kaur. The Mai chose
Gulab Singh for managing her estates and looking after her security and other interests. She also
entrusted her treasures to his care. Consequently when she decided to accompany Gulab Singh to
Jammu to live the rest of her life under his protection all her treasures were also transported to
Jammu.
Capture o f Mangla Fort17
To the South of Kotli and Rajaori and in the outer hills bordering the plains lay the principality of Khari-
Khariali which had been founded in the 15th century by the Katoch Rajputs of Kangra, along with the
principality of Bhimber. Mangla, on the left bank of River Jhelum was the capital of Khari-Khariali.
During the reign of Ranjit Singh Mangla Fort was captured by the Dogras under Rattan Dev after a
long siege and thereafter the principality formed part of the Jammu Raj. Finally Maharaja Ranjit Singh
annexed the territory to Punjab and right till the end of Maharaja Kharak Singh's reign the territory was
governed by an agent of the Durbar. After the death of Maharaja Kharak Singh, Raja Gulab Singh
sought permission of Mai Chand Kaur for the annexation of the territory to the Jammu Raj and this
was duly granted. Consequently Gulab Singh deputed Diwan Hari Chand to lead an expedition for the
occupation of the territory, but it was not before March 1841 that Diwan Hari Chand was able to
march his army into Khari-Khariali. By then Sher Singh had ascended the throne but he does not
seem to have opposed the move.
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