Attempts at accommodation with Moslem fundamentalists, moderate Sikhs, rebellious students and insurgents rankled intransigent party members.

A number of militants targeted officials and people opposed to their point of view, which included Hindus and some moderate Sikhs.

The hundreds of remaining militants have the ability to strike hard, and moderate Sikhs are divided among themselves.

Many moderate Sikhs seek autonomy; more extreme factions want independence, and have long used violent means to pursue it.

Many moderate Sikhs are still reluctant to criticize the radicals, in part because they respect the extremists' sincerity, but also because many say they fear armed retaliation.

Ill feelings between Mr. Gandhi and moderate Sikhs are almost back at the level of 1984, when many Sikh leaders were jailed on charges of sedition.

Most victims of the Sikh militants are Hindus, but the militants also attack moderate Sikhs who oppose the separatist campaign.

ISYF members have engaged in terrorist attacks, assassinations, and bombings against both Indian figures and moderate Sikhs opposing them.

The accord was hailed as an example of Mr. Gandhi's flexibility, and it paved the way for the moderate Sikhs to win the Punjab election that fall.

It was not immediately clear if the priests' dismissal had support among Sikhs or whether it would deepen a division between fundamentalist and moderate Sikhs.