Britain's envoy to India has joined scores of politicians and public figures in the northern city of Amritsar to mark the 100th anniversary of colonial troops' massacre of unarmed protesters.
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"The events of Jallianwala Bagh 100 years ago today reflect a shameful act in British-Indian history," British High Commissioner Dominic Asquith noted in a visitors' book at the memorial.
Hundreds of unarmed men, women and children were gunned down at Jallianwala Bag, a walled garden in Amritsar, on April 13, 1919 while they were peacefully protesting the arrest of two prominent national leaders in defiance of a ban on public gatherings.
The British government at the time put the death toll at 379 while Indian freedom fighters said nearly 1000 people were killed.
The massacre, considered one of the worst acts of cruelty carried out by the British colonial government, is thought to have sparked the Indian independence movement. Indians have long demanded an apology for the incident.
British Prime Minister Theresa May said in parliament on Wednesday the incident was a shameful scar in British-Indian history.
"We deeply regret what happened and the suffering caused," May said.
Indian politicians and descendants of victims in India were quoted in local media as saying the remarks fell short of a full public apology.
Over Friday and Saturday, several events were held to pay homage to the victims. Hundreds of people marched through Amritsar to the gardens on Friday holding candles and flags and singing patriotic songs.
Rahul Gandhi, the head of the Indian National Congress opposition party, and Punjab Chief Minister Amrinder Singh were among the stream of visitors to the memorial on Saturday.
"India pays tributes to all those martyred on that fateful day. Their valour and sacrifice will never be forgotten," Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on Twitter.
India is in the midst of general elections, and both Modi and Gandhi were campaigning on Saturday in southern Karnataka state. Karnataka is among the regions where voting will be held in the second phase on Thursday.
Indian Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, a former leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, joined a ceremony at the memorial Saturday and released a commemorative stamp and coin to mark the anniversary.
Australian Associated Press
