India braces for religious violence

NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- Fearing sectarian riots, Indian authorities have stepped up security after more than 50 Hindus died in a train fire set by a suspected mob of Muslims.

The Sabarmati Express service passenger train was traveling near Godhra in western Gujarat state when attackers torched four of its cars, killing more than 50 people. At least 18 others were seriously injured in the attack.

Most of the victims were part of a group of activists returning from the north Indian town of Ayodhya where they had been demanding the government build a temple on the ruins of a 16th century mosque destroyed nearly a decade ago.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has called for the temple plans to be shelved and appealed for calm.

Vajpayee said the government was "very worried" about the incident and urged all communities to respect the law.

"I will ask people to be patient. They should not get excited or incited," he said, adding that the government would launch full-scale inquiry into the attack.

"The country's unity and the spiritual brotherhood should be maintained at all costs."

Vajpayee has cancelled his trip to Australia this week to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting because of the rising tension.

Security

VIDEO CNN's Satinder Bindra reports police across India are bracing for violence after a mob set fire to a train carrying hundreds of Hindu activists. Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   RESOURCES Gallery: Godhra train fire    AUDIO CNN's Satinder Bindra in New Delhi reports on the attack 2.38 MB / 3 min. 46 secs. WAV sound    CNN.com Asia More news from our Asia edition

Officials have refused to confirm the identity of the attackers saying only that a mob of about 2,000 firebombed the train, setting four of the cars alight and nearly destroying one of them.

Extra security forces have been rushed to the area and security stepped up in cities where Muslims and Hindus live in close quarters.

Police have also been put on heightened alert in Ayodhya where some 11,000 security personnel have already been deployed.

Two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) and one company of State Reserve Police (SRP) have been deployed in Godhra to guard against further violence, The Times of India reported.

Godhra has a sizeable Muslim population and has been scene to several clashes between Hindus and Muslims in the past.

A curfew has been imposed on the town and police have being given orders to shoot on sight any troublemakers.

The Times of India reported that at least 35 people were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the attack.

There were also reports that tens of thousands of Hindus were gathering outside Ayodhya.

Riots

The demolition of Ayodhya's Babri mosque in 1992 sparked riots between Hindus and Muslims across the country that left more than 2,000 people dead.

The activists traveling on the train belonged to the World Hindu Council, which has called on supporters to travel to Ayodhya to put pressure on the government to allow construction of the temple.

Police say the activists on the train had earlier confronted a group of Muslims at a nearby train station.

Over the past few days an estimated 15,000 followers have taken up that call and traveled to the town.

The council has said it plans to begin building work on the temple by March 15, ignoring court orders banning any construction at the site.

Vajpayee has publicly appealed to Hindu activists to call off their campaign saying they should respect legal rulings on the disputed site.

Hindu activists have said they will not wait, but have pledged their campaign to get the temple built will be carried out peacefully.