Battle of Panipat (1556) - Aftermath

Aftermath

After beheading of Hemu, his skull was sent to Kabul to display outside the 'Delhi Darwaza'. His torso was sent to Delhi and hanged outside Purana Quila on a 'gibbet' to terrorise Hindus. Hemu's wife escaped from Purana Quila taking the booty along with and remained untraceble. A genocide of Hindu civilians was ordered by Bairam Khan of which continued for many years. Hemu's relatives and close Afghan supporters were caught and many of them beheaded. Minaretts were made of the beheaded skulls at different places. Hemu's 82 years father who had escaped to Alwar was traced after 6 months and was beheaded for refusing to convert to Islam.

Akbar took Agra and Delhi without much resistance. But soon after he took possession of his capital, he had to return to Punjab when intelligence informed him of Sikandar Shah Suri’s (Adil Shah Suri’s brother)advancing campaign in Punjab. Sikandar Shah was, however, defeated and taken captive after the siege of Fort Mankot by Mughal forces and exiled to Bengal. The victory of Akbar at the Battle of Panipat in 1556 was the real restoration of the Mughal Power in India. It took Akbar eight years to capture the territory which was occupied by Hemu Vikramaditya up to Bengal.