[4][5] Following the attacks, Ahmad Shah desecrated the Sikh holy site known as the Shri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar.

[8] In January 1757, Ahmad Shah Durrani was returning to Afghanistan after raiding Hindustan and sacking Delhi, when his army under Prince Timur Shah and Jahan Khan were attacked by Sikh bands under Ala Singh and Baba Deep Singh near Sirhind, seizing the treasures they were carrying.

[4][5] When Ahmad Shah reached Lahore, he sent a military detachment to sack the town of Amritsar, which destroyed the Harmandir Sahib and massacred the Sikh population.

[7] Baba Deep Singh managed to gather a band of around a thousand followers from different villages before advancing towards Amritsar.

[7][6][9] Having received intelligence that the Sikhs had gathered at Amritsar, Jahan Khan mobilized an Afghan force to fight them.

[4] Legend says that Baba Deep Singh was fully decapitated but continued to fight against the Afghans while holding his head on one hand and his sword on the other.