Bandits slaughter 13 villagers

A gang of bandits tied the hands and feet of 13 villagers and then shot them dead in central India today.

A surviving villager, who was also shot, was in critical condition, police said.

The villagers were leading their cattle out to graze when they were attacked in Bhanwarpura, 195 miles south of New Delhi.

News reports said the killers suspected the villagers had been helping the police in operations against them.

The area in Madhya Pradesh state is known as a hide-out for bandits.