The said mound, spread over about seven acres, is located near Gurdas Nangal village, about 15 km from Gurdaspur. A gurdwara and a sarovar have already been brought up over the mound. During the digging of the sarovar, the bones of animals, horses, men and pieces of weapons were discovered as remnants of the said war.

Giving details of the historic battle on the mound, Prof Raj Kumar Sharma, a regional historian, said that the fall of Gurdas Nangal brought to an end the career of Banda Bahadur, one of the most illustrious warriors of Punjab. Before Guru Gobind Singh passed away he entrusted his mission to Banda Bahadur.

Banda Bahadur headed the military command of the followers of the Guru. A council of ‘panj piaras’ consisting of Binod Singh, Kahan Singh, Baj Singh, Daya Singh and Ram Singh was appointed to assist him. He was also given a Khanda and Nagara, the symbols of temporal authority, and hukamnamas (letters), asking the Sikhs to extend every help to him.

In November, 1709, Banda Bahadur destroyed the towns of Samana, Kapuri and Thaska. The battle of Chappar Chiri in 1710 that led to the occupation of Sirhind signalled the beginning of new era in the history of Punjab, says Prof Sharma.

Peeved about the growing exploits of the Sikhs, Abdul Samad Khan was appointed Subedar of Lahore on February 22, 1713. At that time Banda Bahadur was carrying his military activities in and around Kalanaur in order to conduct swift raids on the Mughal power centre of Lahore. Though reduced in strength he was busy building mud fortifications at Kot Mirza Jan, a small village between Kalanaur and Batala. Before the defences could be completed, Banda Bahadur was attacked from all directions.

Banda and his men fought bravely post to post before taking shelter in the haveli of Bhai Duni Chand in Gurdas Nangal village. The siege of Gurdas Nangal began in April, 1715. Banda Bahadur and his men made every effort to strengthen the defences of the haveli by collecting stores or ammunition and rations. A ditch was dug outside the haveli and filled with water from the neighbouring Shah Nehar canal and other small streams flowing from the hills that rendered the Mughal artillery useless. Whenever the Mughals tired to bring their artillery in position, horsemen would come out from the haveli and destroyed it .

Though it was an unequal fight with the Mughal forces swellings day by day, the Mughals did not make a frontal assault, fearing that hand- to- hand battles would cause them heavy losses as in the battles of Thatian and Raipur Behrampur.

After about eight months when not even a blade of grass was left for the forces of Banda Bahadur in the haveli, the Mughals entered the premises on December 7, 1715, massacring many while taking many lieutenants, including Banda Abrader, as captive.

Prof Raj Kumar said it was unfortunate that the places depicting the last war fought by one of the greatest Sikh warriors were being deformed due to haphazard constructions. The government and the SGPC should take concrete steps to protect such structures for future generations.