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6 terrorists killed as they storm Ayodhya temple;
Patil briefs Cabinet; RSS expresses concern

Ayodhya, July 5
Hurling grenades and firing indiscriminately, six heavily armed terrorists today made an attempt to storm the high-security makeshift Ram temple here, but were killed before they could make it to the shrine.

The attackers came in an ambassador car at around 9 am, preceded by an explosive-laden jeep, which they rammed into the security barricade to breach the cordon, and tried to enter the premises by firing indiscriminately from AK-47 and AK-56 assault rifles.

While one militant who rammed the jeep was blown to pieces, five others were killed in the encounter with security personnel, Faizabad Commissioner Arun Sinha said.

Principal Secretary Alok Sinha said in Lucknow that all the pilgrims were safe and no damage had been done to the temple area.

He said the driver of the ambassador car had been arrested and three security men were injured in the operation, which lasted nearly an-hour-and-a-half.

New Delhi: Home Minister Shivraj Patil briefed the Union Cabinet on the terrorist attack in Ayodhya today. The Cabinet meeting was presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The Cabinet Committee on Security also met later to review the situation, official sources said.

Surat: Abruptly breaking the ongoing discussions on the ties with BJP, the RSS conclave here today expressed serious concern over the terrorist strike on the Ram Janmabhoomi complex in Ayodhya and appealed to the people to register their protests in a "peaceful manner".

Emerging from the closed-door meeting, RSS Spokesman Ram Madhav told reporters the attack was "very unfortunate".

However, with the shadow of post-Godhra riots still looming large over the Sangh Parivar, he appealed to the people to register their protest in a "peaceful manner while ensuring law and order".