Outside the Beltway

Militants Storm Indian Shrine

James Joyner · Tuesday, July 5, 2005 · No comments

Militants Storm Indian Shrine (VOA News)

In northern India, security forces have killed five unidentified gunmen who attacked a disputed religious site sacred to both Hindus and Muslims. Security has now been stepped up across the country. Police say the militants stormed their way Tuesday into the tightly-guarded religious site that houses a makeshift Hindu temple at Ayodhya town in Uttar Pradesh state.

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Both Hindus and Muslims claim the Ayodhya site. Hindus say it is the birthplace of Lord Rama, and in 1992 right-wing Hindu mobs demolished a mosque that stood on the site, sparking deadly nationwide religious riots.