When, after the battle of #Panipat in 1761, nearly 3,000 exhausted Maratha horsemen fled across the Chambal towards #Gwalior. Some of them lost their way and sought refuge in distant and nearby villages and towns. ‘Cultivators killed many of them’, a contemporary observer reported. Many had to give up their garments and were made to drink salt water on suspicion of having swallowed ashrafis and jewels. Those on whom such things were found, were killed.