ON this day 100 years ago, hundreds of Indian civilians were killed by British troops in Amritsar.

But what is the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, how many people were killed and what has the Prime Minister said about it? Here's what we know.

What is the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre?

Also known as the Amritsar Massacre, the event is known as one of the most shameful moments in British history.

On April 13, 1919 (100 years ago today), troops of the British Indian Army fired rifles into a crowd of Indians who had gathered in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, Punjab.

They had gathered for a peaceful protest to condemn the arrest and deportation of two national leaders Satya Pal and Saifuddin Kitchlew.

Under the command of Colonel Reginald Dyer villagers, who had gathered for the day of Baisakhi, were shot and killed.

How many people were killed?

Dyer stated in a Report to the General Officer Commanding that “I hear that between 200 and 300 of the crowd were killed."

He claims 1,650 rounds were fired, a number apparently derived by counting empty cartridge cases picked up by the troops.

The Hunter Commission report on the incident, published the following year by the Government of India, criticised both Dyer, and the Government of the Punjab for failing to compile a casualty count, so quoted a figure offered by the Sewa Samati (A Social Services Society) of 379 identified dead, with approximately 1,100 wounded, of which 192 were seriously injured.

The casualty number estimated by the Indian National Congress was more than 1,500 injured, with approximately 1,000 dead.

What has Theresa May said about it?

On Wednesday the Prime Minister spoke in the House of Commons about the event ahead of today's centenary.

She said: "The tragedy of Jallianwala Bagh in 1919 is a shameful scar on British Indian history.

"As Her Majesty The Queen said before visiting Jallianwala Bagh in 1997, it is a distressing example of our past history with India, we deeply regret what happened and the suffering caused.

"I'm pleased that today the UK-India relationship is one of collaboration, partnership, prosperity and security.

"Indian diaspora make an enormous contribution to British society, and I'm sure the whole house wishes to see the UK's relationship with India continue to flourish."

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What did David Cameron say about it?

In 2013, David Cameron became the first serving UK prime minister to pay his respects at the scene of one of the bloodiest massacres in British history.

The PM visited Amritsar in the north-western state of Punjab earlier today where hundreds of people died after British troops opened fire on a demonstration.

As he came to the end of his unprecedented three-day trade trip to India, the PM described the massacre as “a deeply shameful event in British history”.

Writing in the memorial book of condolence, he added: “We must never forget what happened here”.

He laid a wreath at the memorial, bowing his head and standing in silence to pay respect to those who died.

Before visiting the massacre site, Mr Cameron toured the Golden Temple, the holiest shrine in the Sikh religion.

He removed his shoes and socks and donned a blue bandanna head-covering as he was taken round the temple, which he later described as “very moving, very serene, very spiritual”.

The Prime Minister then paid his respects to massacre victims by laying a wreath and signing the book of condolence at the Jallianwala Bagh memorial.

Although he branded the massacre deeply shameful, Mr Cameron did not make an apology.

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