According to 'History of The Marattas' a book written in 1826 by James Grant Duff, a Captain in the British India Regiment,(page-198),'Surat was attacked by Shivaji on 5 Jan 1664. This was a wealthy port city in Mughal empire for the sea trade of the era. The city was well populated mostly by Hindus and a few Muslims, specially the officials in the Mughal administration of the city.The attack was so sudden that the population had no chance flee.