The chants outside grew louder as the mob became more restless and violent. Huddled together, the family members joined their hands to say their last prayer. Outside, a new conspiracy was brewing. Unable to break down the strong wooden door, the mob had decided to set the house on fire. By the time the family finished its prayers, the house was engulfed in flames. The brothers raised their swords and screamed the battle cry, ‘Jo bole so nihal, Sat Sri Akal [He who chants the lord’s name stays blessed]!’ Then, with tears rolling down their cheeks, they slashed at their daughters with weapons. One by one, all the teenage girls fell to the ground and lay in pools of blood. The middle-aged women came next. They cried out aloud, wept bitterly and shut their eyes in pain. Each one of them knew the consequences of being taken alive.

After the last woman had been slain, the brothers took a step back and looked at the bodies lying on the floor, their faces pale, their eyes brimming with tears. However, there was no time to mourn or even get into a huddle. Soon, the burning door came crashing down and fell inwards, letting the rioters into the courtyard. Not finding anyone there, they started banging on the door of the room where the family had locked itself in. The brothers shouted the battle cry once again, ‘Jo bole so nihal . . .’ and launched a fierce counter-attack. They thrust and slashed at their enemies with their swords, killing the first set of attackers. The second, third and fourth lot met the same fate. But the rioters kept pouring in. The communal bloodbath continued till Balwant and his brothers were stabbed to death. An eerie silence descended over the house after the carnage was over. The floor was covered with dead bodies, severed limbs and a thick layer of blood.