less than a month after signing the punjab accord, longowal was assassinated by the sikh militants opposed to the accord. longowal was shot and killed on 20 august 1985 near the gurdwara in village sherpur, 90 km from patiala in punjab. assassin halwinder singh fired bullets from a point blank range at longowal. the bullets had pierced his abdomen causing his death. his cremation took place on 21 august.