The first spark of India’s freedom movement was ignited in 1847 and its first heat was seen in Meerut. The names of people like Mangal Pandey, Rani Laxmibai, Nana Saheb Peshwa, Tantya Tope and Bahadur Shah Zafar are taken among the leaders of that revolution. But there were also some unsung heroes, who had sacrificed everything for the cause of freedom. One such hero is Dhan Singh Gurjar, a Kotwal of Meerut, who was bowed by UP CM Yogi Adityanath on the occasion of the 1857 revolution anniversary. He paid homage by paying floral tributes to the statue of Dhan Singh Kotwal. Kotwal Dhan Singh Gurjar was the person who freed 900 people from the prison of the British, who became a part of the movement. Let’s know, the full story of immortal sacrifice…
Dhan Singh Gurjar was the Kotwal of the Sadar Bazar police station in Meerut during the revolution of 1857. Under the scheme, they started gathering thousands of people from the evening itself. By the time the British officers could understand something, it was too late. Dhan Singh Gurjar was firm in his intention and had set out on his campaign. Overnight, Dhan Singh Kotwal rides a horse in police uniform and reaches the Victoria Park jail and frees 85 soldiers from the jail. Not only this, they also break the gate of the jail, due to which 836 prisoners also come out. Then all these people took part in the revolution.
Panchli Khurd village of Meerut is still a monument of 1857 revolution. Dhan Singh Gurjar was born in this village on 27 November 1814. Was. Dhan Singh Gurjar was the Kotwal of the Sadar Bazar police station in Meerut in 1857, but he was against the British rule. In fact, on May 9, 85 soldiers who opposed the greased cartridges were court martialed and sent to jail. After this, on the morning of 10 May, Kotwal Dhan Singh Gurjar of Sadar Bazar police station in Meerut started gathering crowd taking the side of the soldiers. On the evening of May 10, when British officer Colonel Jones Finis tried to stop the crowd, the mob killed him. This is where the movement started.
Dhan Singh Kotwal burnt the jail, British offices were destroyed
Historians tell that Dhan Singh Kotwal took his police personnel along. The people of his village Panchali, Ghat, Gagol, Noornagar, Chudiala and other villages were called to Sadar Bazar at night. Reached Victoria Park Jail at 2 o’clock in the night. First, the 85 soldiers who were sent to jail a day earlier were freed. After that 836 prisoners of the jail were freed. Courts, jails, tehsils and even the offices of British officers were burnt in the night itself. Later, Kotwal Dhan Singh was accused of instigating revolution. On July 4, 1857, British officer Khaki Risale attacked the village of Kotwal with cannons. More than 400 villagers were killed, 40 were hanged. Dhan Singh Kotwal was also hanged on the middle road outside the cantonment.