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and killed almost all the attaching Dogra soldiers. Wazir Zorawar Singh was witnessing this state of affairs from Chechethang. He dispatched further re-enforcement during this action Wazir Ghulam Hassan was killed. Owing to his death coupled with the arrival of re-enforcement, the Baltis lost heart, left their position and joined the forces entrenched at Thamoghon battle-field. Thus the Wanko Pass passed under the control of the Dogras.

Wazir Zorawar Singh attacked the Balti forces in the plain of Thamoghon. Having lost many men, they fled from the battle-field.

Raja Ali Sher Khan, had already made arrangements with his forces attached to the Baltis that they should not take part in the battle against the Dogras and that they should leave the battle-ground and keep aloof when the battle started. The Kharman forces complied with these orders.

Wazir Zorawar Singh entered Marol and pursued the retreating forces up to Hamzigund. This event took place on or about 1^st Phagan, 1886 (Bik). This battle was a turning point in the conquest of Baltistan. Although the Baltis gave a fight near Hamzigund, but it was not a major one.

It has been related earlier that Raja Ali Sher Khan while in Laddakh had already entered into a secret pact with Wazir Zorawar Singh. On the one hand Ali Sher Khan dispatched his forces under Wazir Trangpa Abdul Ali to oppose Zorawar Singh in the plain of Thamoghon and thus win the good will of Raja Ahmad Shah, on the other hand, he had entered into secret correspondence with Wazir Zorawar Singh at Chechethang and had helped the Dogras secretly in crossing the river as well as in the battle field when the affairs were about to take a serious turn for the Dogras. By such means he ingratiated himself with the Wazir. In consultation with Wazir Zorawar Singh a special sign or mark was used by the men of Raja Ali Sher Khan. The person bearing that mark was not to be harmed by the Dogras. In pursuance of this agreement neither these men (bearing that sign) attacked the Dogras nor they were harmed by them. Thus by this diplomacy, the Kharmang forces came out of the battle field unscratched. At Hamzigund, Raja Ali Sher Khan paid homage to the Wazir and pledged his full support. In recognition of these services the Wazir ordered that no interference will be made in internal affairs of Kharmang.