The Swatis harboured renegades, refugee criminals and internal malcontents, and took every opportunity of inciting British villages to violence.

They are descendants of Utman Baba, who accompanied Mahmud of Ghazni on his expedition into Hindustan in the year 997, and settled in this country.

Also they gave much trouble to the British frontier, and in 1852 afforded an asylum to and aided the fugitive Khan of Tangi; on 'which a force under Sir Colin Campbell proceeded against them in May, and their principal villages, Pranghar and Nawadand, were taken and destroyed after a determined resistance.

The Utman Khel or clan who inhabit the northern portion of the Baizai division of Yusuf zai are probably a section of the above tribe.

Their villages are strongly situated in the nooks and corners of spurs running down front the Paja and Mora ridges, and the people are as wild as the hills they inhabit.

In 1863 six of their villages furnished men to oppose the British force which was sent on the Ambela campaign, and they were fined Rs.

In November and December Lieutenant Ommaney unsuccessfully endeavoured to induce them to make peace; but in February 1865 Captain Monro was more successful, and fines were imposed.

In 1872, however, some of the clans evacuated the villages of Kui, Barmul, and Mian Khan, and as they refused to return or to obey the authorities, the houses of the Khui ringleaders and entire Barmol and a Ranizai hamlet in its vicinity were pulled down.

A village of Ranizai the situated in the north east mountain fringes of present-day Mardan district N.E of Khui Barmol) was pulled down in 1872 and they fled to lower Swat.

Sam Ranizai is an extensive district, stretching over the Totai Hills, and includes the whole of the lower end of the Swat valley, in which there are about thirty khel or clans.

The force then marched towards the British territory; but as the Ranizai refused to pay the fine, and repudiated the hostages, whose families they expelled from their territory, on 18 May Sir Colin returned to Shahkot, and found his force opposed by about 4000 infantry and 500 cavalry, all from Swat, in addition to the armed villagers.