Ultras Storm Temple in Gujarat, 30 Dead, 100 Injured

Gandhinagar-Gujarath, India, Sept. 25 2002 (INS News) -- At least 30 people were killed and about 100 injured in a terrorist attack at the famous Akshardham Temple of the Swaminarayan Sect, even as the elite NSG commandos stormed the temple to flush out the ultras holed up in the temple complex.

However unofficial reports put the death 50 in the attack. More than 500 peope were safely evacuated from the temple complex spanning about 15 acres.

While the security forces, including RAF, CISF and BSF commandos, were engaged in a fierce gun battle with the militants, the Gujarat government sounded a state-wide high alert and closed down all major temples.

Official sources confirmed death of 30 people and injury to nearly 100 people. The toll may go up as many were seriously injured, the sources said. The deceased include six women and four children.

Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, who represents Gandhinagar constituency in the Lok Sabha, reached here along with a team of 50 black-cat commandos, the sources added.

President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said the cowardly attack by terrorists on innocent people is an assault on the secular national fabric which has steeled our resolve against terrorism.

The attack needs to be condemned in the strongest possible terms by all peace-loving people; Kalam said in a statement, appealing in this moment of anguish, to the people and especially the citizens of Gujarat to keep peace. Kalam called up Gujarath Chief Minister Narendra Modi and sought details of the incident.The people should unite todefeat all evildesigns against our country which lives and Shines through its civilisational heritage and the tolerance of its people, he added.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who is on a visit to Maldives is returning to Delhi, cutting short his trip in the island.. Vajpayee condemned the attack and appealed for calm.

A high alert has been sounded in neighbouring states , Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka in the wake of the terrorist attack of temple.The authorities have been asked to take special security precautions at Ayodhya, Varanasi, Mathura,religious places in the state.

Top Police officials said that a high alert was sounded throughout the state and security has been beefed up in sensitive and important installations as a precautionary measure.

The Organisations, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal have called a Bharat Bandh on Thursday to protest the incident. They described the terrorist attack on the temple as a "repetition of Godhra". The RSS urged the people of the state to maintain peace and communal harmony.

Opposition leader Sonia Gandhi, Bharatia Janata Party, President Venkaiah Naidu and other party leaders have strongly condemned the incident. The National Commission of Minorities (NCM) condemned the terrorist attack. They appealed to the people to maintain harmony and unity.

-- Sam Asharaf - South Asia Correspondent in Trivandrum, India
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