Srinagar: Preliminary inquiries into the temple attack in Gujarat suggest that the two members of the suicide squad were from across the border and not locals, Union Minister of State for Home I D Swami claimed on September 26.

"They were not from our country and were definitely from across the country," Swami told reporters here.

To a question about the identity of the militants, Swami said, "Though some unknown militant outfit had claimed responsibility for the attack, we strongly believe that they were cadres of Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.

"These groups have been changing their names and nomenclature ever since the September 11 attack last year in America and Pakistan is still funding them, may be under different names," he said.

Swami said that the enquiry into the attack suggested that the modus operandi and technique used in the temple attack were similar to that used in Parliament, Jammu and Kashmir state Assembly attacks and Kaluchak.

He said the two slain militants were in the age group of 20 to 25 as was seen in the case of Kaluchak and Parliament incidents.

However, the identity and other details about the attackers would be clear after the enquiry was completed, the minister said.

PTI