Into: Christian gang suspected behind the Hindu Temple vandalisation in US.
In the past years, religious discrimination has increased in United States and attacks on Hindus and their religious beliefs have become common here. In a recent incident, a Hindu temple in the US state of Texas has been vandalised with offensive images spray-painted on its walls. This is the third such incident in three months. Earlier also two temples were vandalised in Washington State in the month of February.
It is reported that the number 666 and an upside down cross was sprayed on the door of the temple. Vandals also painted symbols of devil worship on the temple’s door. The attackers left behind on a shed at the temple the mark of Mara Salvatrucha, an international gang originating among immigrants from the predominantly Catholic nation of El Salvador and active in the US. There has been strong reactions all over country after reports came out.
According to the media reports, a part of the police also believes that the temple was vandalised by an international gang from a predominantly Catholic nation of El Salvador.
Earlier, on February 15, unidentified miscreants sprayed swastika and painted “Get Out” on one of the walls of the Bothell Hindu Temple in the Seattle Metropolitan area. On February 26, vandals used bricks to break several windows and then painted the word “fear” on the wall of the Kent Hindu Temple.
In addition, 57-year-old Suresh Bhai Patel of Gujarat State faced racial attack by American Police on February 6, 2015. He was left partially paralysed after being roughed-up by police in Alabama. On March 31, 2015, a Sikh man brutally assaulted in Birmingham. The murder of 49-year-old Divyendu Sinha, an IIT Kharagpur alumnus in New Jersy suburb on June 25, 2010; hospitalisation of a youth from Andhra Pradesh, Murali Krishna after a racial attack on him in June 2009; and the killing of 28-year-old young Indian-American businessman Amit Patel from Edison by an unidentified assailant outside his family owned liquor shop in New Jersy on February 18. There are many more such incidents which don’t come out.
Both Indian and American government need to come together and should take immediate action to stop such incidents in future. Also, Indians living in the US show their concern against rising hate crimes by raising voice loudly. n
| Vivekananda statue at BIA On April 11 2015, for many it became a historical event in Wembley when Vishwa Hindu Parishad (UK) donated Swami Vivekananda’s statue to BIA (Brent Indian Association). The statue is to be installed in their premises situated on Ealing Road, Wembley. BIA is a ‘Community Resources Centre’ where the Indian community particularly elders use the premises for daily satsang and religious functions. |
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