The bandits rapidly became popular as the common people viewed Mian Dido as a fighter for their honour.
[4] Several ballads were composed in praise of his deeds, one of which is given below: Beria daiya chodi de, sadi kandi chodi de Apne Manje da mulk samhal, apne Lahaure da mulk samhal Pagdi talwar Mian Dido hall je kitta Badi Badi mundian beri diyan range garne naal Ladkan bal garne naal, hath audan nahi Dido Jamwal[1] Maharaja Ranjit Singh sent Gulab Singh to crush the bandit group of Mian Dido.
Initially, Gulab Singh tried to convince Mian Dido to submit, he would be spared and given a high post in the court.
Gulab Singh also tried to use his kinmanship with him (Raja Hari Dev of Jammu was their common ancestor) as a pretext to not fight.
When they were surrounded by Sikh forces, Dido left his wife and two sons under the protection of a priest of the Vaishno Devi temple.