India, Jan. 31 -- Mahatma Gandhi was shot dead shortly after 5pm on January 30, 1948, by a man dressed in a khaki tunic who fired three revolver shots at point-blank range as Gandhiji was walking to the prayer ground in Birla House. As he fell, Gandhiji said, "Hey Ram." The assassin, Nathu Ram (Narayan) Vinayak Godse, said to be a member of the Hindu Mahasabha, Poona, reached New Delhi by air and was seen in a waiting room in the city before he came to Birla House. He was pounced upon by the crowd and is in custody. Soon after, security measures were put into force throughout the country. A few minutes before Gandhiji left for his prayer meeting, he had an intimate talk for an hour with Deputy Prime Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who th...