The Nagas

Hill Peoples of Northeast India

Project Introduction The Naga Database

published - extracts on Nagas from 'Assam Administration Report'

caption: the Manipur revolt
caption: Manipur
caption: Relations with Tributary States and Foreign Affairs
caption: measures taken to occupy Manipur
medium: reports
person: Maxwell/ Maj. H. St. P.Grant/ Lt.Hafiz Fateh Shah
location: Tangkhul Hills Thoubal (Thobal) Imphal (Manipur)
production:
date: 1891
production:
date: 1892
text: "3. As soon, however, as the news of the disaster was brought to Kohima by fugitive sipahis and others, the Deputy Commissioner at once marched on Mao, and drove back the Manipuri forces. On the Cachar side, troops were moved to the Barak river, and measures were taken to occupy the Manipuri capital by British troops. Three columns marched on Manipur from Kohima, Silchar, and Tammu, and arrived before the palace on the morning of the 27th April, to find that the Regent and his brother had taken to flight on the previous evening towards the Tangkhul Hills, and the leading Manipuris were in hiding in the valley. The palace had been looted by the villagers, and the arsenal was destroyed, and the capital completely evacuated. A detachment of mounted infantry was quickly sent in pursuit of the fugitives, who were followed up into the Tangkhul Hills, where further pursuit was abandoned owing to the paths being impassable for ponies. Foot soldiers then took up the chase, but without success; in the meanwhile some Kukis, who were armed by me, headed the princes and compelled them to return to the valley, where one by one they were captured by Manipuris in my employ, the Senapati being the last to be arrested on the 23rd May.
text: Hearing of the disaster at Manipur, the Jemadar in command of the Military detachment of 30 sipahis, 43rd Gurkha Rifles, at Langthabal, the British cantonment three miles to the south of the capital, withdrew his detachment in good order to Tammu. Here he met the gallant Lieutenant (now Major) Grant, who, on hearing the news, at once marched on Manipur, taking with him the Jemadar's detachment in addition to fifty men of his own regiment, the 12th Regiment (2nd Burma Battalion), Madras Infantry. At Thobal, 14 miles from Manipur, Lieutenant Grant's force was met by the Manipuri troops, who, however, failed to dislodge him from the position he had taken up at one end of the village. He was, however, unable to advance, and was recalled to Tammu, which he succeeded in reaching without loss. A Punjabi trader at Langthabal, named Hafiz Fateh Shah, gave much assistance to the detachment retiring on Tammu and again to Lieutenant Grant in his advance on Manipur. For his loyalty and bravery on these occasions, he has been rewarded by a money payment of Rs. 100, 12 plough cattle, and a grant of 20 acres of land in Manipur rent-free for life. He has also been given the title of 'Lionhearted'.
text: The only serious opposition to the march on Manipur was met by the Burma Column near Palel, where some 300 of the enemy had encamped in a small earthwork. Of this number, 200 unwisely permitted themselves to be surrounded, and in the fight that ensued 193 were killed, our loss being one native officer killed, and three British officers, one native officer and one sipahi wounded. On arrival at Manipur the bodies of our officers and men killed on the 24th March were interred in the Residency cemetery, and the surplus troops shortly afterwards returned to India and Burma. The summer garrison retained in the valley comprised:
______8th Mountain Battery_____|_____43rd Gurkha Rifles
______1-2nd Gurkha Rifles______|_____44th Gurkha Rifles
text: In October the 1-2nd Gurkha Rifles returned to India, and in the following month the Mountain Battery marched to Burma, the 44th Gurkha Rifles, on being relieved by a wing of the 42nd Gurkha Rifles from Kohima, returned to Shillong, and the permanent garrison in Manipur no consists of the 43rd Gurkha Rifles and a wing of the 42nd Gurkha Rifles.
refnext: Next
refprev: Previous