Siege of Sod
| Siege of Sod | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Dogra invasion of Ladakh | |||||||
 Image of Sod fort in Ladakh | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Dogra dynasty | Namgyal dynasty of Ladakh | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
General Zorawar Singh Mehta Basti Ram | Salam Khan | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 500 | 600 | ||||||
The Siege of Sod was a significant battle between the Dogra army, led by General Zorawar Singh, and the Ladakhi forces commanded by Salam Khan. Zorawar Singh, a skilled military leader, aimed to expand the Dogra dynasty influence into Ladakh, while Salam Khan defended Ladakh's sovereignty. The siege resulted in a hard-fought standoff, with Zorawar Singh's forces ultimately overcoming the Ladakhi defenses.[1][2][3]
Background
[edit]Following the Battle of Sunku, General Zorawar Singh left a contingent of 35 men to garrison the Suru fort and stationed an additional 10 soldiers at the bridge over the Suru River before advancing towards Lang Kartse and Man-ji, aiming for the bridge of Pashkum. Lang Kartse was swiftly occupied by the Dogra forces, who then established trenches and fortified their position for approximately a month. Meanwhile, Dorje Namgyal, the young Minister of Stog, arrived with his troops and took up strong defensive positions, leading to a series of minor skirmishes that yielded little result.[1][3] As winter set in and snowfall commenced, the Ladakhis, seeking to exploit the situation, launched an attack on the Dogras. However, the assault backfired for the Ladakhis the Minister of Stog was killed in the engagement, and the Ladakhi forces suffered significant casualties, with about 50 to 60 men falling in battle. Despite their losses, the remaining Ladakhis managed to retreat across the bridge, which they subsequently destroyed to hinder the Dogras' pursuit. Nevertheless, the following day, the Dogra soldiers crossed the river unopposed on inflated skins. In the chaos, the Chief of Pashkum fled to the safety of the fort at Sod.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Siege
[edit]As the Dogras pressed their campaign in Ladakh, the situation at Sod fort became critical for both sides. Reinforcements mobilized by the old king of Ladakh, led by his ministers Ngorub-Standzin and Bankhapa, were expected to bolster the Ladakhi defense with around 4,000 additional soldiers from various districts. Recognizing the urgency, Zorawar Singh ordered a siege on Sod fort before these reinforcements could arrive, setting up a battery to bombard the stronghold. The Dogra artillery fired relentlessly for ten days, yet the fort's commander, Salam Khan, mounted a fierce defense, successfully repelling their advances despite suffering a loss of 40 men.[1][3][4][5]In a bid to break the stalemate, Zorawar Singh commanded Colonel Basti Ram to lead a determined assault with 500 troops. Under the cover of night, Basti Ram launched a surprise attack, taking advantage of the darkness and the ongoing artillery fire. By daybreak, his forces stormed the fort, overcoming Salam Khan's defenses. The assault proved decisive, leading to the capture of the Chief of Pushkam and a significant number of Ladakhi soldiers.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Aftermath
[edit]After the successful siege of Sod, Zorawar Singh's advance into Ladakh faced an unexpected delay due to the presence of a British national, Dr. Henderson, in the region. Despite the Dogra forces having already secured victories in Suru and Dras, the arrival of a new Ladakhi army led to a standoff. However, the Ladakhi generals, likely intimidated by the superior weaponry of Zorawar Singh's forces, refrained from engaging in combat. The stalemate continued for several months, but it was political concerns rather than military factors that caused the delay.[1][3]The Ladakhi ruler strategically spread a rumor that Dr. Henderson was an envoy from the East India Company, sent with promises of British assistance to Ladakh. This claim unsettled Zorawar Singh, prompting him to halt his campaign and report the situation to Raja Gulab Singh. The matter was then escalated to Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who sought clarification from the British Political Agent stationed in Ludhiana. The British Agent assured the Maharaja that there was no intention on the part of the British to interfere with his territorial ambitions in the north. With this reassurance, Zorawar Singh was instructed to resume his Campaign.[1][3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g Charak, Sukh Dev Singh (1983). General Zorawar Singh. Public Resource. Publications Division, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 35-36.
- ^ a b c Franck, a h (1970). A History Of Ladakh. p. 143-144.
- ^ a b c d e f g CHARAK, SUKHDEV SINGH (1978). INDIAN CONQUEST OF THE HIMALAYAN TERRITORIES. AJAYA PRAKASHAN, JAMMU. p. 77-78.
- ^ a b c Cunningham, Alexander (1854). Ladák, Physical, Statistical, and Historical: With Notices of the Surrounding Countries. Allen. p. 334-335.
- ^ a b c Ladakh – Alexander Cunningham. p. 332-333.
- ^ a b Datta (1973). Ladakh and Western Himalayan Politics 1819-1848. p. 108.