'ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1860-61' [‎19v] (34/164)

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POLITICAL.
[Bombay']
2
the Western Bheel Agent, for the protection of the frontier of this Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. .
Notwithstanding the efforts made for the security of the outlying districts, the
Burwanee Bheels, by a rapid incursion, entered the Sultanpoor Talooka, and
attacked the small village of Kheir, consisting of about twenty houses. Most
of these were plundered, but the inhabitants were not further molested.
4. A Bheel Naik of Khandeish, named Khajee Sing, whose fidelity at
this time there was no reason to doubt, was employed by the Bheel Agent in
obtaining intelligence regarding the movements of the abovementioned
marauders. A pardon had been accorded to Khajee Sing in October 1858, in
consideration of his previous good conduct, on his submitting to the Magis
trate, with three other Naiks who had gone into rebellion with him in 1857.
He was subsequently restored to his situation as Rukwaldar of the Sindwa
Ghat with the concurrence of the Governor General’s Agent in Central India,
and was treated with every consideration and kindness by the officers of
Government in respect to his hereditary office. It was therefore not without
surprise that a report was received of a serious outrage perpetrated by Khajee
Sing on the 14th July, in the seizure of a convoy of twelve camels laden with
treasure of the value of Rs. (2,75,000) two lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees and seventy-five thousand,
on the way to Indore. The Western Bheel Agent, on receiving this information,
immediately started for Seerpoor in pursuit of Khajee Sing, but on arrival at that
place he found that the Naik had made good his entry into the difficult fastnesses
of theSatpoora range beyond the Khandeish frontier. As early as the 7th June the
Head Quarter Wing of the 26th Native Infantry had been moved forward from
Nassick to Dhoolia, and detachments of this Corps were immediately, on receipt
of intelligence of Khajee Sing’s proceedings, despatched to Seerpoor on the
river Taptee and other places. At the same time a detachment of 150 Sabres
of the Poona Horse was ordered to Khandeish for the protection of the road,
and the Magistrate of the province was directed to offer a reward of Rs. 3,000
for the capture of Khajee Sing. By vigorous efforts Lieutenant Atkins, with
detachments of the Bheel Corps and Irregular Horse, was able to come up with
the Bheels under Khajee Sing in the Satpooras on the 1st August. The
insurgents were then completely routed after a sharp fight. Khajee Sing’s
uncle was taken, and the Naik himself only escaped after a pursuit of eight
miles by taking on foot to a jungly ravine under cover of evening.
o. Khajee Sing was subsequently treacherously slain. His son, Pholad
Sing, was captured, and was shortly afterwards removed from Khandeish to
Sind as a measure of precaution.
? Anangements have now been made in concert with the Governor
General’s Agent in Central India, which, it is hoped, will effectually prevent the
occurrence of any further Bheel outrages on the north of the Khandeish
frontier.