Barelvi had declared jihad against the Sikhs and established a camp in Balakot along with Shah Ismail Dehlvi and his tribesmen.

The Sikh soldiers eventually killed Syed Ahmad Barelvi, along with hundreds of his followers.

[3][4][5][1] After facing opposition from Pashtun tribes, Sayyid Ahmed Barelvi shifted to Balakot in 1831.

[1] On 6 May 1831, Syed Ahmad Barelvi's Mujahideen forces prepared for the final battle at Balakot in the mountainous valley of Mansehra.

[1] A large group of Mujahideen fighters did not realize that Syed Ahmad had been killed and went in search of him.