Terrorists storm famous Hindu temple in Gujarat, kill 25 (THIRDLEAD) By Pradeep Malik, Indo-Asian News Service
Gandhinagar, Sep 24 (IANS) Unidentified terrorists Tuesday evening stormed a famous temple complex in the western Indian state of Gujarat, convulsed recently by sectarian violence, and killed at least 25 people and injured around 70. Two or more terrorists came, armed with AK-47 assault rifles, to the Swaminarayan temple complex in the capital in a car, shortly before 5 pm and opened random fire in a terror attack that sparked fears around the country of renewed violence. Over 500 devotees and tourists were present in the 23-acre temple complex when the attack occurred. The gunmen first shot dead a woman official after scaling a fence and exploded a bomb near the temple gate, following it up with indiscriminate fire. Most of the dead were men, but several women and children also died. Several men managed to escape from the complex, some of them bleeding profusely. Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, who represents Gandhinagar in Parliament, said in New Delhi earlier Tuesday evening that the dead included 12 men, six women and four children. "I see in the attack a deliberate design to create trouble," he told reporters. Advani, who was flying to Gujarat Tuesday night, was keeping Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who is in the Maldives on an official visit, informed about the terror attack, a spokesman for Vajpayee's office said. The prime minister would return to New Delhi early Wednesday, cutting short his visit to the Maldives by about 12 hours. Vajpayee, in a statement from Male, appealed for calm and said "those who resent the success of the Jammu and Kashmir elections are behind this," a clear allusion to a Pakistani hand. The attack came even as the second round of balloting ended in Jammu and Kashmir for the state assembly elections. The stunning incident sent shock waves across the country, and leaders of Vajpayee's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the main opposition Congress party called upon the people of Gujarat to maintain calm. So did Hindu and Muslim leaders across the country who feared the attack could spark off fresh sectarian killings such as those that had left a deep scar on Gujarat in February-May when at least 1,000 people died in communal violence. Elite commandos of the National Security Guard were rushed from New Delhi and were expected to take on the terrorists believed to be inside the temple. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but officials believe it could be the handiwork of groups in Pakistan that shares a common border with Gujarat. Minister of State for Home Affairs I.D. Swami said the commandos would not allow the terrorists to escape at any cost. One of the terrorists had reportedly got on to the roof of the complex and was firing at the policemen outside, scattering them. Some of the injured who managed to stagger out of the temple, bleeding profusely, said the terrorists shot at several people including women as well as children. Many collapsed on the floor writhing in pain after being hit on the legs. The magnificent temple, built in pink sandstone, is a very popular tourist spot. It belongs to the Swaminarayan Hindu sect that has millions of followers around the world. The temple, which was visited by former U.S. president Bill Clinton last year, has a seven-foot, gold-leafed idol of Lord Swaminarayan, the 18th-century founder of the sect. A woman living near the temple said she could hear gunshots. "We are in a state of terror. We can hear the gunshots. We just don't know what is happening," said Kavita Anand, a government employee. The Gujarat government has ordered all government doctors to report for work and put hospitals on high alert. "Everyone should remain calm," BJP spokesman Arun Jaitley said in a television appeal. --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet =================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead !
