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Indian authorities urge calm
06/07/2005 08:16 - (SA)
Ayodhya - Indian leaders urged calm following an attack on a Hindu shrine complex that has long been at the centre of Hindu-Muslim strife, as authorities moved to prevent a possible backlash and more religious violence.
An attacker in a jeep blew himself up on Tuesday, with the blast tearing a hole in iron railings surrounding the shrine and allowing the other five attackers to get within 15m of the temple's inner sanctum, police said.
After the gunbattle, the attackers' bodies were sprawled on the grounds, and hundreds of local residents converged on the complex. Three security guards were wounded in the battle, and police said they recovered four assault rifles, one carbine rifle, 17 live grenades and one small rocket launcher from the attackers.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh strongly condemned the attack and said the government would deal firmly with terrorists.
"All state governments have been alerted to take adequate precautions to protect monuments, security installations, religious places. Particular attention has been drawn toward maintaining communal harmony, peace and public order," said Singh's spokesman, Sanjay Baru.
The site, east of New Delhi, is claimed by both Hindus and Muslims, and the attack appeared religiously motivated, although no claim of responsibility was made and police didn't blame any group.
Hindu nationalists quickly pointed a finger at Pakistan-backed Muslim militants from the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir, and said the incident proved India's recent peace overtures with Islamabad were a failure.
Pakistan condemned the attack, as did the largest militant group in Kashmir, Hezb-ul Mujahedeen. India and Pakistan are pursuing peace after years of acrimony.
The sprawling 80-acre complex has seen previous violence. In 1992, Hindu nationalists demolished a 16th century Muslim mosque on the site, sparking riots that killed more than 2 000 people.
Hindu leaders claim the mosque was built by Mogul rulers on the site of a sacred Hindu temple. They believe it is the birthplace of Ram, the highest god in the Hindu pantheon, but Muslims say there is no proof of that claim. The dispute is still working its way through India's courts.
Ayodhya is guarded by thousands of troops.
Security officials in New Delhi said they were able to repel the attack relatively quickly because intelligence reports had indicated that militant groups were planning to attack religious sites.
The attack triggered a quick reaction in Hyderabad. Police arrested 20 Hindu nationalists protesting what they said was Pakistan's involvement. They burned the Pakistani national flag and a paper effigy of Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf, police said.
- AP
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