At least 23 worshippers are killed after gunmen storm a crowded Hindu temple

GUNMEN stormed a crowded Hindu temple and opened fire, killing at least 23 worshippers yesterday in a western Indian state where hundreds of people were killed in religious rioting this year.

With 40 people injured and 150 worshippers still inside the temple, more than 200 commandos swarmed into the sprawling temple complex, in the city of Gandhinagar in Gujarat state, setting up positions around the main temple, said RB Brahmabhatt, the city's acting police chief.

Deputy Prime Minister Lal Advani, described the shooting as a suicide attack. He said the attackers, armed with hand grenades and AK-47 rifles, had taken up positions on the roof of a building inside the complex.

"Twenty-three people are dead," Mr Advani said, including six women and four children. "The terrorists are still inside."

He said 500 people had been evacuated from the complex.

Mr Advani said the attack appeared tied to yesterday's (OK) state elections in Kashmir, the only majority Muslim state in largely Hindu India, and a scene of regular violence.

India alleges that its neighbour, Pakistan, sponsors Muslim terrorists in Indian territory. Islamabad denies the allegation.

No-one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but fears spread quickly in Gujarat that the attack would ignite still more violence.

Witnesses said the attack took worshippers completely off guard.

"I saw five gunmen inside," said 25-year-old Balwant Shukwant Patel, who was rescued by security forces soon after the shooting began. "We were sitting under a tree when they started firing indiscriminately. We thought someone was setting off firecrackers. People started running here and there."

Details were hazy, with officials unsure of exactly what was going on inside much of the main temple.

"Our first priority is to see that the people who were worshipping inside are brought out safely," said junior Interior Minister ID Swamy. "We cannot fire indiscriminately like the terrorists. No-one should be hurt in the crossfire, that is very important."

TV pictures showed bloodied bodies including those of policemen and priests being brought out on stretchers from the main Swaminarayan Temple. Many wounded limped out, their clothes stained with blood.

Policemen and commandos crouched behind bushes as they slowly moved toward the temple. Shooting continued from inside the temple as night fell, and soldiers set up powerful spotlights around the scene.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee congratulated Kashmir voters for their courage in casting ballots despite Islamic militants' death threats.

"Irrespective of who wins, it is clear to the whole world that the ballot is winning a resounding victory over the bullet," Mr Vajpayee said after the second round of a four-phased election.

The next rounds will be in October.

Islamic militants who have fought for 13 years to merge India's only Muslim-majority state with Islamic Pakistan, or make it independent had threatened to kill candidates, poll workers and voters.

Vajpayee said 37 political activists and 66 security personnel have been killed since the elections were announced in August. Despite this, 42% of the 3.58m registered voters have turned out.