Liu Bin-Di was a Hui Muslim Kuomintang (KMT) officer and was sent by officials in Urumqi to subdue the Hi area and crush the Turkic Muslims, who were prepared to overthrow Chinese rule.
The rebels assaulted Kulja on 7 November 1944 and rapidly took over parts of the city, massacring KMT troops, however, the rebels encountered fierce resistance from KMT forces holed up in the power and central police stations and did not take them until the 13th.