 Public outcry over Gandhi's death led to the killings of Sikhs in the ensuing 1984 anti-Sikh riots.After the assassination of Indira Gandhi on 31 October 1984 by two of her Sikh bodyguards, anti-Sikh riots erupted the following day.They continued in some areas for several days, killing more than 3,000 Sikhs in New Delhi and an estimated 8,000 – 17,000 or more Sikhs were killed in 40 cities across India.