Indo-Asian News Service
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN, March 21, 2005: Volunteers pulled out 17 bodies from the debris of a Hindu temple in Pakistan’s Balochistan province destroyed in fierce fighting between security forces and tribal fighters, news reports said Monday. More bodies were still under the temple debris in Dera Bugti town and efforts were on to take them out, Dawn quoted Mukhi Rano Mal, president of the Hindu panchayat of Kashmore in Sindh province, as saying. Rano Mal had gone with a group of volunteers Sunday to help in the rescue operations, the daily said. He said 15 people who were seriously injured when the temple collapsed after being hit by a shell had been hospitalised. The temple, located in a predominantly Hindu area, was destroyed during clashes between tribal gunmen and paramilitary troopers Thursday. Eight troopers and 40 tribals had been killed and several injured in the fighting.