[2][7] According to official reports, the Sikh terrorists asked the 20 passengers aboard to declare their religious affiliation, and subsequently lined up 7 Hindu men and shot them.
[8] Due to the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab, the Congress led State government was dismissed and President's rule was imposed on the next evening post massacre.
[11] Shortly afterwards, responding to a dispute with Babbar Khalsa, he moved with his followers into rooms near the Akal Takht, heading off the possibility of a government raid in the midst of the increasing tensions.
[10][3] Following national public outrage, the government pressured Longowal and other moderate factions of the Sikh leadership to issue a religious edict condemning violence.
The extremist faction raised objections, questioning whether security forces would abide by similar principles; negotiations subsequently fell through as Longowal and the moderates succumbed to internal dissent.