Nathu is a poor, working-class man who occasionally takes on odd jobs to support himself and his wife. He is superstitious, fearing black magic and bad omens, and easily intimidated by men of higher social standing. When he realizes the pig he killed may have been used to spark a religious riot, he is consumed by intense guilt and anxiety.

Richard is the British Deputy Commissioner of the Indian Civil Service, responsible for governing the local district. He masks his bureaucratic indifference behind a veneer of scholarly interest in Indian history, spending his free time collecting Buddhist statues. He views the escalating violence between Hindus and Muslims as a problem that does not directly concern the British Empire, allowing the conflict to worsen through his own inaction.

Liza is Richard's wife, having recently returned to India after a six-month absence. She despises the country, suffers from severe boredom, and self-medicates with alcohol. Despite her overt prejudice and revulsion toward the local populace, she ironically possesses a stronger moral compass than her husband regarding the unfolding humanitarian crisis.

Harnam Singh is an elderly Sikh business owner who runs a local tea shop. He holds a deep, quiet faith that initially causes him to stay in the city, though the spreading violence forces him and his wife into the wilderness as refugees. He represents the ordinary citizens caught in the crossfire of political and religious extremism, willing to accept his fate with peaceful humility.

Ranvir is a fifteen-year-old Hindu boy who finds excitement and purpose in the escalating religious conflict. Filled with hatred based on local legends and political propaganda, he eagerly joins a militant faction. He views the violence not as a tragedy, but as a thrilling adventure that gives his aimless life meaning.

Murad Ali is a powerful and influential figure who operates in the shadows. He gives Nathu the task of killing the pig under false pretenses, initiating the chain of events that leads to the citywide riots. He carefully maintains his distance from the actual violence he helps incite.

Bakshiji is the Secretary of the District Congress Committee. He is an idealistic, patient man who attempts to bridge the gap between Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims through community service and peaceful outreach. He quickly recognizes the danger of the escalating tension and tries to petition the British government for help.

Banto is Harnam Singh's wife, a cautious woman who recognizes the reality of the impending violence before her husband does. As a Hindu woman married to a Sikh, she navigates strict religious dietary rules even while fleeing for her life. She relies entirely on her husband's guidance as they seek shelter in neighboring villages.

Lalaji is an elderly Hindu man and a prominent member of his community. While he participates in preparing his neighborhood for defense, he prefers diplomatic solutions over outright conflict. He becomes desperate when the riots begin, frantically searching for his radicalized son.

Master Devbrat is a militant Hindu tutor who radicalizes young boys into his Youth Group. He uses cruel methods, such as forcing children to slaughter animals, to desensitize them to violence and prepare them for street combat against Muslims.

Teja is a Sikh holy man and militant leader who commands the forces gathering inside the local gurdwara. He uses religious rhetoric to whip his congregation into a frenzy, claiming that God demands a violent sacrifice rather than a peaceful resolution.

Ramzan is the son of Ehsan and a fervent member of the Muslim League. He participates in hunting down religious minorities in the countryside. However, his abstract political hatred falters when he is directly confronted by an individual he recognizes from his daily life.

Nathu's wife is a practical, observant woman who keeps their small household running. She quickly senses the shift in her husband's demeanor and coaxes his dangerous secret out of him, offering him a pragmatic perspective on his guilt.

Shah Nahwaz is a Muslim man who seemingly operates above the sectarian violence, braving the streets to help his displaced Hindu friends recover their valuables. However, the ambient tension triggers a sudden, violent impulse within him directed at a lower-class servant.

Devdutt is a dedicated member of the Communist party who views the conflict through a political rather than strictly religious lens. He risks his life moving through the rioting streets to arrange a peace meeting among bitterly divided community leaders.

Ehsan is a Muslim man living in a rural village. He participates in the opportunistic looting caused by the riots but draws the line at outright murder, reluctantly allowing refugees to hide on his property because of a past business relationship.

The Old Woman is Ehsan's wife, a Muslim villager who immediately offers sanctuary to fleeing Sikh and Hindu refugees. She actively risks the wrath of the local Muslim League—including her own family members—to provide a hiding place for strangers in need.

The Records Clerk is tasked with counting the dead and missing following the catastrophic riots. Overwhelmed by the flood of traumatized refugees who want to share their personal tragedies rather than just numbers, he struggles to maintain his bureaucratic detachment.

"The General" is an eccentric, shaggy man who wears a uniform and constantly spouts intense political rhetoric. Though his peers largely view him as harmless and goad him for entertainment, he takes the political situation very seriously.

Sohan is a young Sikh man who desperately attempts to prevent his community from engaging in violence. He claims to have spoken directly with Muslim leaders to negotiate a truce, but his efforts are rejected by his own radicalized congregation.