hindustani fanatics, india's pashtuns, and deobandism – connections

Hindustani Fanatics, India’s Pashtuns, and Deobandism – ConnectionsThe site of Mangal Thana was probably between 5,000 and 6,000 feet above the level of the sea. The trees grew thickly, and the scenery aboutit was much like that of Murree.On the 30 th April the whole of the British troops returned to British territory and halted on the 1 st May.It now only remained to deal with the colony of fanatics at Sittana, for which the purpose of the force, under the command of Major-GeneralCotton proceeded towards Khabal (see map), distant from Sittana about four miles, where it encamped on the morning of the 3 rd May.On the evening of the same day, the Major-General, having reconnoitered the hills and villages of the enemy, determined to make the assaulton the following morning. Arrangements had been made to assault the enemy’s position from the east and south simultaneously, and the enemy wasdriven from their main position, which they defended desperately, with considerable loss. The fanatics had Pathan allies from the neighboring Gaduntribe, but their heart was not in the business, and they fled precipitately.The fighting of the Hindustanis was marked with fanaticism; they came boldly and doggedly on, going through all the preliminary attitudes ofthe Indian prize-ring, but in perfect silence, without a shout or word of any kind. All were dressed in their best for the occasion, mostly in white; butsome of the leaders wore velvet cloaks.The position of the enemy being carried at all points, and their villages destroyed, the Major-General determined to withdraw the troops. Inthe afternoon, the enemy, chiefly Pathans, rallied again upon another height; they had been joined by considerable numbers during the day, but theMajor-General, in concert with the Commissioner, determined to adhere only to the object in hand, and not pursue the enemy further into the hills,where the troops would have come in collision with the Gadun and the other independent tribes.As the troops withdrew, the enemy followed up closely, but were kept in check by the rear guard, aided by the fire of two 5 ½ mortars,It was dusk before all the troops had descended the hill, and the force encamped for the night on the Sittana plain by the bank of the Indus.Our losses were six killed and twenty-nine wounded; those of the enemy were – Hindustanis fifty, Pathans ten killed. The number of thewounded was not known, but the enemy acknowledged that they were numerous. Two Hindustanis were taken prisoners, one a native of Rampur, theother a Bengali, and they were summarily hanged at Sittana. On the 5 th the force returned to Khabal, and thence marched to Naoshera, where it wasbroken up.As a result of these operations the Utmanzai and Gadun tribes entered into an agreement not to allow the Hindustanis to re-occupy Sittana.After this, the fanatics retired to Malka, a village on the slopes of Mahaban, granted to them by the Amazai tribe.In 1861, however, they again came down to a place called Siri, just overhanging their old haunt at Sittana, and commenced sending robbersTribal Analysis Center, 6610-M Mooretown Road, Box 159. Williamsburg, VA, 23188