New Delhi, Apr 1 (IANS): A large number of people were denied entry to the French trapeze theatre "Flying Angels" here after police said that the venue had got packed.

Some estimated the number of those turned away at more than 2,000 people, including children, who carried invitations for the event at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium late Sunday.

Some women complained they were roughed up by policemen.

Those denied entry included government officials and politicians with families.

The event marked the end of Bonjour Festival of France in India. It was hailed by critics as the first-of-its-kind street circus to have come from France, the cradle of new-age circus, to India.

It had incorporated Indian acts to relate to the locals.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium annexe was expected to accommodate 10,000 people, the organisers said.

But at 7 p.m. Delhi Police shut the gates and controlled the approaches to the stadium, saying the venue had overshot capacity.

The police curbs unleashed chaos, with invitees protesting against Delhi Police.

"We were given passes from the embassy," said social worker Asha Khanna.

A member of Teamworks Productions, which managed the event, said police closed the gates after the stadium was packed to capacity.