during the partition of india numerous pogroms occurred in and around the princely state of patiala. in several cases, organized bands of sikhs and hindus were responsible for atrocities. the late harkishan singh surjeet, of the communist party of india (marxist), witnessed the events and said in our interview: ‘the communal attacks on the minorities were definitely planned. i know more about the persons involved in the eastern wing because i was there. i saw those dreadful acts with my own eyes. in that conspiracy, the maharaja of patiala was involved. the idea was that if the muslims were driven out.'” the attacks on sikhs and hindus in march 1947 in rawalpindi are regarded as one of the major crimes that triggered off others. nehru believed the maharaja had sought to ethnically cleanse the territory of muslims as part of this effort.