Jhanda Singh Dhillon

The Jhanda Bunga of Amritsar, built by Jhanda Singh of the Bhangi Misl, now demolished.

Jhanda Singh Bhangi (died 1774) was a chief of Bhangi Misl. Under his leadership the Dhillon family became the dominant de facto ruling power of Punjab. His father was Hari Singh, one of the most powerful Sikh warriors of the time.

Military campaigns In 1766, soon after taking power, Jhanda Singh and Ganda Singh led a large army towards Multan. They stopped at the right bank of the Sutlej River, across from Bahawalpur. Mubarik Khan, ruler of Bahawalpur, came to stop them. Shuja Khan, the governor of Multan, joined Mubarik Khan in the fight. A tough battle took place between the Sikhs and the Muslims, but neither side won. They agreed to divide the land between Bahawalpur and Lahore. A treaty was signed, and Pakpattan was decided as the boundary between the two groups.

Ahmad Shah Durrani's Eighth Invasion of India and the Sikh Resistance (1766–1767) In December 1766, Ahmad Shah Durrani launched his eighth invasion of India, but the Sikhs were ready for him. Led by Jhanda Singh, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, and Khushal Singh, they employed guerrilla tactics to constantly harass Durrani's forces. Undeterred, Durrani attempted to negotiate, sending letters to the three Sikh leaders on 15 January 1767, inviting them to either meet with him or face him on the battlefield. However, the Sikhs rejected his offer and continued their relentless attacks. By May 1767, Durrani had had enough and retreated from Punjab. Seizing the opportunity, Jhanda Singh remained in Amritsar, completing the fort initially built by Hari Singh. He also laid out the city's infrastructure, further solidifying the Sikhs' control over the region.