Hodson arrested about 16 members of the Emperor's family and was transporting them from Humayun's Tomb in a bullock cart accompanied by a detachment of 100 "sowars" (Indian cavalrymen in the British service).

On reaching this gate, he was stopped and surrounded by thousands of Muslims, with white cloth tied on their foreheads (a symbol for the shroud) Jehadis or Ghazis.

It is said that Hodson ordered the three to get down at the spot, stripped them of their jewelled swords and shot them dead at point blank range.

During the riots of 1947, more bloodshed occurred near the gate when several refugees going to the camp established in Purana Qila were killed here.

[1] The three-tiered structure is believed to have been a display board used to present the heads of offenders and enemies during Sher Shah Suri's time.