Why Jaish, Lashkar are prime suspects

Post-mortem reports and preliminary evidence from the site, sources said, also showed a remarkable similarity to similar Lashkar attacks. Like at the Akshardham temple three years ago. The recovery of a mobile phone, documents, three AK-47s, one AK-56 rifle, two pistols, and 17 live grenades pointed to a pre-planned conspiracy to damage the disputed site.

Sources said while markings on the rifles were not clear, the grenades used were probably Arges, the same brand used in the attack on Parliament. It is understood that the attackers could have infiltrated into India through the Nepal route and the first indication of a possible attack on Ayodhya was given by a Lashkar module busted by UP police about 45 days ago.

This evidence was the basis for a strategy meeting called tonight of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) after which PM Manmohan Singh called for calm and urged all political leaders to exercise restraint.

‘‘This attack at a place of religious significance is aimed at destabilizing our society and polity…I appeal to all citizens to be calm and request all political leaders to help in maintaining public peace and communal harmony,’’ Singh said.

The Prime Minister, who kept to his schedule of leaving for the G-8 summit in Gleneagles tomorrow at 11 am, called the attack a serious and dastardly one and reaffirmed the government’s resolve against terrorism. ‘‘We will never compromise with the terrorists. There should be no doubt whatsoever in anybody’s mind on this point.’’

Sources said the CCPA had decided that the Government would not react to charges by other political parties and to abstain from shifting blame on agencies or state government for the lapses.

The CCPA also agreed to provide additional paramilitary forces to Uttar Pradesh if the state desired. Troop support also came in the wake of intelligence briefing that the state was the next target of terrorists moving in from bordering Nepal.

The committee has also asked the Home Ministry to beef up intelligence gathering for sourcing specific informations. At the meeting, the ministry had claimed that intelligence agencies had informed all states of a likely attack on a religious site, sources said.

All states have been alerted to take adequate precaution for protecting monuments, security installations and religious places, the PM said.

Earlier in the day, the Home Ministry control room flashed the terrorist strike message to the political leadership and top bureaucrats by 9.30 am after which the PM decided to summon a Cabinet meeting.

At that meeting, the main concern was whether the disputed structure was damaged in the attack as Home Minister Shivraj Patil, who rushed from Nagpur, said that a grenade had been lobbed by the terrorists. While Patil did not have more information, National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan and Home Secretary V K Duggal intervened to say that the structure was safe. This meeting was followed by the CCS and by that time the terrorists had been gunned down. One of the terrorists, who had explosives strapped to his abdomen, blew up near the barricade.