The violence lasted for several days and resulted in the deaths of thousands of Sikhs, with estimates ranging from 2,800 to over 8,000.
The riots were memorable for several reasons. Firstly, the sheer scale of the violence and the number of people affected made it one of the deadliest episodes of sectarian violence in India's history. Secondly, the riots were seen as an attack on the Sikh community as a whole, rather than just the perpetrators of the assassination. Many innocent Sikhs were targeted and killed or injured in the violence.
Thirdly, the riots were notable for the complicity of some government officials and police officers who were accused of either directly participating in the violence or failing to stop it. This led to widespread criticism of the government's handling of the situation and accusations of state-sponsored violence.
Lastly, the riots left a deep scar on the psyche of the Sikh community in India and around the world, who saw the violence as an attack on their identity and their struggle for equality and justice. The memories of the 1984 riots continue to be a sensitive and emotional issue for many Sikhs and remain an important chapter in India's history.