Sikh raids on Delhi

In 1764, Sikhs helped Jats of Bharatpur to capture Delhi after the Battle of Delhi (1764).

After defeating Mughals in the Battle of Sirhind (1764)[2] Sikhs plundered jagir of Najib-ud-daula. Najib appointed Afzal Khan to take care of Delhi. Sikhs raided the Paharganj region of the city.[1]

Sikhs raided Delhi in 1770. They sacked Panipat and entered the territories of Najib-ud-daula and attacked Delhi. Zabita Khan was sent to stop Sikhs[1] The Sikhs demanded a large amount of money for friendship but the demand was as declined by Zabita.[3]

In 1770, Najib-ud-daula passed away and Zabita Khan took the chief of Rohilla. The Sikhs again came to Delhi and attacks Zabita Khan's territory. Details of Sikh invasion have been noted by French Missionary, Father Peere.[3]

On 18 January 1774, the Sikhs invaded Delhi for the fourth time. They plundered Shahdara and the Mughal nobility.[1][4]

In October of 1774 the Sikhs raided and ravaged Delhi.[1]

One 15 July 1775, the Sikhs raided and set fire to Paharganj and Jaisinghpur . Mughals failed to stop the Sikh advances.[1][5]

The seventh raid happened in November of 1776. The Prime Minister of the Mughal empire, Najaf Khan, was taken by surprise.[1]

The eighth raid happened in September of 1778. Sahib Singh encamped near the Shalimar garden. The Mughals invited the Sikhs to a feast.[1]

On 1 October of 1778 , which was Dushera day the Sikh attacked Delhi and all the way to Rakabganj. They destroyed a Mosque which was created on the site of a previously destroyed Gurdwara.[1] The Sikh remainded in Delhi for one month after capture.

On the 12th of April 1781 after attacks by the Mughals to the Sikh the Sikh marched toward Delhi. The sacked Baghpat and laid waste to Khekra. The Sikhs managed to intercept letters of Najaf Khan, thus an alarm was raised in Delhi. On the 13th they stormed Sardhana and Mawana. They pillaged Muradnagar. Manu Lal, the vaki of Begam Samru, sought immediate aid. Najaf Khan ordered Afrasiyab Khan to march on the Sikh but they refused unless they were paid. Najaf had no money.[6]

On the 16th the Sikh attacked Patparganj and Shahdara which were the suburbs of Delhi. People over 50 miles South of Delhi were terrified. Other Sikh armies conquered Sheikhpura and Barnawa. The amil of the place was wounded and fled. On the 17th Najaf Khan marched to Karinana to protect his own estate. Najaf Khan amrched woth many generals against the Sikh as they continued to conquer the area around Delhi. Murtaza Khan and Gazi Khan had 4,100 troops ready to march against the Sikh.[6]

On the 20th the Sikh crossed the Yamuna back into their own territory and started selling looted propery and goods. On the 24th 500 more Sikh crossed the river with 300 of the carrying booty. A skirmish occurred when Mir Mansu attacked the Sikh eventually dying in batlle.[6]

On March 28, 1782, Najaf Khan ordered Shafi to march against the Sikh with an army of 10,00. Najaf Khan would die soon after giving the orders. Shafi attacked the Sikh for two months before being summoned in Delhi and making negotiations with the Sikhs. As September began and the rainy season over the Sikh raided and looted everything from Delhi to Hardwar.[7]

In 1783, a body of 40,000 Sikhs camped at Delhi. Prince Mirza Shikoh was defeated and fled. The Sikh soldiers were divided into 3 groups. Two groups of 5,000 Sikhs each deployed at Majnu-ka-Tilla and Ajmeri Gate whereas 30,000 Sikhs under Baghel Singh camped at a place known as Tees Hazari before attacking Red Fort. The Sikhs defeated the Mughals in the Battle of Delhi (1783) and captured Delhi.[8][9][10][11] Jassa Singh Ahluwalia was placed on the takht of Delhi as Badshah Singh of Delhi but Jassa Singh Ramgarhia objected that without Dal Khalsa meeting no one can be placed on the throne.[12] Mughals agreed to construct 7 Sikh Gurudwaras in Delhi for Sikh Gurus.[8][9][13][11]

In December 1784 the Sikh raided and plundered the neighbourhoods of Delhi on instigation of Najaf Quli Khan. The Sikh quickly retreated before any counterattack.[20]

In January 1786 the Sikh and Gujars raided the territory from Panipat to Delhi. Sikh numbering near 5,000 had plundered villages near Ghausgarh. The Sikh further ravaged Meerut, Harpar, and Gharmuktesar. Ravjoli Sindha marched to the Sikh with 7,000 calvary and 10 cannons. The Sikh marched back to their own territory.[21]

On the 27th of July, 1787 500 Sikhs plundered everything from Agra to Delhi.[22]

The sixteenth raid happened in August of 1787. The Sikh once more attacked Shahdara. The Sikh fought with the imperial guards and defeated them. Martha General Madho Rao Phalke. In the fight many men drowned in the river with a large number being killed or wounded. Shah Nizum-ud-Din and Deshmukh watched the violence and decided to join in. They attacked the Sikh with many bullets but retreated later on. Phalke surrendered while the rest of the generals fled.[1]

The Sikh with Ghaulam Qadir attacked the Red Fort on October 30, 1787.[1]

In early 1788 Ghulam Qadir’s territory was unprotected. The Sikh attacked the territory which included Delhi.[23]

One the night of March 12, 1788, the Sikh with Najaf Quli Khan attacked the tent of the emperor and slaughtered his men. The emperor managed to save himself by feeling to a heavily guarded tent.[1]