By 1857, the British had established complete political control over India. As Western education was introduced and missionaries eroded, resentment of Hindu society among Indians grew, coupled with unease within the old ruling class when the British decided to formally abolish the Mughal Empire. The Mutiny of the Sepoys (native troops of the British army) began on May 10, 1857, when Indian soldiers put in irons for refusing to accept new cartridges were rescued by their comrades. Greased cartridges had to be torn off before use, and manufacturers provided beef and pork fat - repugnant to Hindus and Muslims alike. For Hindus, the cow is sacred, while Muslims consider the pig to be a filthy beast. Inevitably, some Sepoys refused to use the ammunition and were consequently chained and imprisoned. Angered by this approach, their comrades revolted and freed them. In their escape, they brutally killed several British soldiers, which set the tone for some savage scenes, particularly over the next six months. The Indian garrison in Delhi joined the mutineers and proclaimed Bahadur Shah, the titular Mughal emperor, as their leader. the capture of Delhi transformed the mutiny into a widespread revolt. But the rulers were not united, as they sought to revive the old, traditionally opposing Hindu and Muslim regimes. The British had certain advantages. They received reinforcements from Great Britain and had a base in Bengal. In Punjab, the Sikhs were so hostile to the Muslims that they supported the British against the Mughal restoration in Delhi. As a direct result of the Sepoy Mutiny, the Indian presence in the British army was reduced to almost half of what it had previously been. Additionally, whereas previously Indian regiments had been allowed to exist separately, they were now incorporated as part of larger British regiments. High-caste Hindus and Brahmins were stereotyped as dishonest, due to their role as provocateurs and their nationalist sympathies. The opposite can be said of groups such as the Sikhs, who were held up as model citizens and soldiers..