Battle of Amritsar (1767)

Battle of Amritsar (1767)
Part of Afghan–Sikh Wars
Date 17 January, 1767 Location Amritsar Result Sikh victory [1]
Belligerents
Sikh Confederacy	Durrani Empire
Commanders and leaders
Charat Singh Lehna Singh Bhangi Gujjar Singh Bhangi Hira Singh Nakkai	Jahan Khan  (WIA)
Strength
unknown	15,000. [2]
Casualties and losses
unknown	5,000-6000 killed or wounded [2]

The Battle of Amritsar (1767) took place in January 1767 between the Sikhs and the Durrani Empire. It was part of the Afghan-Sikh Wars, and the battle ended with a Sikh victory. ^[2]

Battle

On January 17, Jahan Khan led a force of around 15,000 cavalry, moving toward Amritsar while plundering the surrounding areas. At the same time, Sikh leaders Charat Singh, Hira Singh Nakkai, Lehna Singh Bhangi, and Gujjar Singh Bhangi had gathered there with their forces. When they heard of Jahan Khan’s approach, they decided to confront him. A fierce battle followed, lasting for about three hours. The Sikhs fought with great determination, and in the intense fighting, they inflicted heavy losses on Jahan Khan’s army. Around five to six thousand Durrani soldiers were either killed or wounded. The heavy casualties forced Jahan Khan to retreat. When Ahmad Shah Durrani, the Afghan ruler, heard about Jahan Khan’s setback, he personally led his army to support him. The combined Afghan forces then launched a powerful attack on the Sikhs, who were eventually forced to retreat toward Lahore. ^{[1] [2]}

References

1. Singh, Ganda (1959). Ahmad Shah Durrani,father of modern Afghanistan. Asia Publishing House. pp. 313–314.
2. Gupta, Hari (2007). History of the Sikhs Vol II Evolution of the Sikh Confederacies. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd. p. 240-241. ISBN   978-81-215-0248-1.