Sikhs in Delhi especially didnt even have kirpans. in one area i cant remember which one in delhi they didnt know, when some one saw the crowds heading there they phoned and told them. sikhs got together and scared them of. bhinderwale defended the panth. but in delhi and place people where prepared. didnt have shasters.
the UK helped giving SAS traing to indian soldies. MThacher was priminister, friend of gandhi. they also put sikh orgs on terorist list with out any proof of terorist actions. i belive SYF and babar khalsa are on cant remember.
Russia helped in operation, supplied tanks, etc.