In 1876, during the Serbian-Turkish war, Serbian forces burned the Albanian village of Manjakë (Manik) near the Ibri (ibar) river. Regions like Ibatak (Çatal) and Bunjakovci (Bukuloja) are mentioned to have been part of the theater of war. The Turkish Albanian forces then drove the Serbs out of their trenches. Serbian forces also set fire to both Christian and Muslim homes on the Albanian side.

Cited:

Salzburger Chronik fur Stadt und Land 1876 writes of Manik (Manjakë):

“A report from Serdar Ghem states that the Turkish troops have already taken possession of the village of St. near Deligrad.

On the Mitrovica side, the Serbs set fire to the village of Manik (Manjakë) and then entrenched themselves at Ibarak (Ibri or Ibar river). However, they were driven out of their positions there, which then fell into the hands of the Turks.

The Turkish troops have also won a brilliant victory over the Serbs in front of Novi Bazar. This is reported from Constantinople.”

Fremden-Blatt 1876 writes about the Serbian defeat at Ibatak (Çatal) and Bunjakovci (Bukuloja):

“On the Mitrovica side, the Serbs, after setting fire to the houses of Christians and Turks in Manik, advanced in considerable strength and with several cannons to within three and a half hours’ march from Ibatak. After a violent, four-hour battle, the Serbs were completely defeated and compelled, abandoning their positions, to flee.

As for the Serbs who had entrenched themselves in the surroundings of Bunjakovci, they were forced out of the entrenchments behind which they had taken cover.”

“Salzburger Zeitung 1807 – 1918 1876” writes:

“Near Metroviza (Mitrovica), the Serbs, after destroying many houses, some Muslim and some Christian, in Manik, advanced to within two hours of Čatal. Here, however, they were forced to retreat after a four-hour battle.

Those Serbian detachments located in the vicinity of Bukuloja were also driven out. The division commander of Novi Bazar also attacked the entrenchments erected by the Serbs on the slopes of the hilly mountains and, after brief resistance, took the advanced positions, whereupon they were besieged by the Turks.”

Sources

Salzburger Chronik fur Stadt und Land 1876. Link.

Fremden-Blatt 1876. Link.

Salzburger Zeitung 1807 – 1918 1876. Link.