GANDHINAGAR, Sept 25: Indian commandos on Wednesday stormed a temple in Gujarat and killed two gunmen, ending a bloody siege which left 31 people dead and raised new fears of sectarian violence and tension with Pakistan.

Police said two of the elite “Black Cat” commandos were also killed after the force entered the sprawling Akshardham temple, in the Gujarat capital of Gandhinagar, to flush out the holed-up militants.

The Indian army sent 3,000 soldiers to the tense western state amid growing fears the bloodbath could spark fresh sectarian killings.

The militants had burst into the temple complex on Tuesday afternoon and lobbed grenades at devotees before spraying them with automatic gunfire. Police and soldiers managed to rescue people by using other entrances into the complex.—AFP