Led by a woman named Amrita Devi Bishnoi, the villagers refused to surrender their trees to the Raj's soldiers.

In all, Bishnois from 83 villages began to travel to Jehnad in an attempt to save the trees,[3] and a council was convened to determine what could be done about the situation.

[5][2][6] Shocked by the passive resistance of the Bishnois, Abhai Singh recalled his men and personally travelled to the village to apologise for his minister's actions.

[7] Several temples and a cenotaph in Khejarli commemorates the massacre, and the village is the site of an annual Bishnoi ceremony held in honour of the event.

[6] A fair is organised every year on Shukla Dashmi of Bhadrapad (Hindu month) in September at Khejarli, Jodhpur, to pay homage to the victims.