Indian commandos end Hindu temple siege

Indian commandos stormed a Hindu temple complex early this morning and killed two gunmen who had massacred 30 people and taken…

Indian commandos stormed a Hindu temple complex early this morning and killed two gunmen who had massacred 30 people and taken dozens hostage.

The gunmen had held off the National Security Guard commandos for hours after the attack at the Swaminarayan Temple complex at Gandhinagar.

Television news reports had earlier said there were three attackers, and that all of them had been killed.

Gunfire and occasional grenade blasts rang out through the night, as hundreds of people waiting outside the complex cheered the commandos and raised angry slogans against Pakistan.

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The attack on the temple, which wounded 45 people, raised new fears of Hindu-Muslim rioting in Gujarat state, where hundreds were killed in religious clashes this year, and a possible escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan.

India claims that Pakistan, sponsors Muslim terrorists in Indian territory. Islamabad denies the allegation. Pakistan condemned the attack at the temple.

PA