Latest revision as of 21:36, 11 October 2014

Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.

[edit] Sankhatra

Village in the Zafarwal tahsil of Sialkot District, Punjab, situated in 32 13' N. and 74 56' E., about 39 miles from Sialkot town. Population (1901), 2,233. It ' ls sa id to have been founded by Hernraj, a Khattrl, who gave it the name of Hemnagar, by which it was known for upwards of a century. In the time of Akbar a famous fakir, by name Sankhatra, a Deo Jat, settled here, and the place was renamed after him. His tomb still exists near the village. Although of no commercial importance, Sankhatra is the residence of a number of wealthy merchants, and possesses larger and finer mansions than any minor town in the District. In 1901 it was the scene of a plague riot, when the naib-tahsildar in charge of the plague camp was burnt to death. It has a vernacular middle school maintained by the District board.