The two thieves thwart the dacoits sent by Gabbar to extort the villagers . Soon afterwards , Gabbar and his goons attack Ramgarh during the festival of Holi . In a tough battle , Veeru and Jai are cornered . Thakur , although he have a gun within his reach , do not help them . Veeru and Jai fight back and the bandits fled . The two are , however , upset at Thakur 's inaction , and consider leaving the village . Thakur explain that Gabbar had killed nearly all of his family members , and cut off both his arms a few years earlier , which is why he could not use the gun . He had concealed the dismemberment by always wearing a shawl .