On April 3, 1990, Khalistani militants, targeting a religious procession of Hindus, orchestrated a bomb blast in Batala town in Gurdaspur District. The attack, which occurred at approximately 2.45pm, resulted in the death of 36 people and injuries to 100 others. The Police reported that the blast was a joint operation by Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and Khalistan Commando Force (KCF), and was planned by Dharam Singh of BKI. In the aftermath of the explosion, communal clashes erupted in the area, resulting in the death of one Police officer and injuries to at least five others. An indefinite curfew was enforced in the area. The militants utilized a bicycle bomb to execute the attack.

On the following day April 4, three Policemen were killed and an unspecified number of civilians were wounded when militants attacked mourners who had attended the funeral of a Policeman who was killed in the April 3 bombing.