The ISKCON Sri Sri Radha Krishna Mandir in Spanish Fork, Utah, was subjected to a series of targeted shootings over several nights in June, leaving the Indian-American and Hindu community shaken, enraged, and demanding urgent action. The Mandir—an iconic structure that has stood as a beacon of faith, peace, and multicultural harmony for over two decades—was riddled with 20 to 30 bullets, some fired while devotees and guests were present inside the premises.
This isn’t a case of random vandalism. It’s a deliberate, violent attack on a religious sanctuary, and Mandir officials are calling it what it truly appears to be—a hate crime.
The attacks occurred at night when the Mandir was not empty, but alive with spiritual activity. According to Vaibhavi Devi Dasi, co-founder of the Mandir, the gunfire shattered the calm of the premises as bullets tore through hand-carved arches, pierced a Mandir window, and lodged into the main worship hall wall—a space where prayers were being offered just moments before.
“We’ve gone on well over these last decades with no trouble. And now, suddenly, this,” said Mandir president Vai Warden, visibly disturbed, in an interview with Fox 13 Utah. “We believe this was based on hate.”
The Mandir staff also reported a mysterious incident on June 18, when smoke was seen coming from the roof of the Mandir’s community radio station. While the cause remains undetermined, it was followed by the discovery of bullet holes and shell casings—making it clear that the Mandir had come under a sustained, targeted assault over multiple days.
Security footage shows a pickup truck pulling up near the Mandir entrance, just before shots were fired. Roughly 20 shell casings were recovered by law enforcement outside the Mandir’s security fence, raising fears of a coordinated and premeditated attack. Yet, as of July 2, no suspects have been identified, questioned, or arrested.
The Utah County Sheriff’s Office has launched a probe, terming the incidents “acts of vandalism,” a classification that many Hindu advocacy groups and Mandir authorities are challenging as grossly inadequate.
“This is not vandalism—it’s terror,” said a spokesperson for the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA). “This was an armed attack on a house of worship. If the same had occurred at a church, synagogue, or mosque, it would be front-page national news and correctly labeled a hate crime.”
The Consulate General of India in San Francisco issued a stern statement condemning the shooting, “We strongly condemn the recent firing incident at the ISKCON Sri Sri Radha Krishna Mandir in Spanish Fork, Utah. The Consulate extends full support to all the devotees and the community and urges the local authorities to take prompt action to bring the perpetrators to justice.”
The Mandir has since increased its security, with local firm GARD providing two weeks of surveillance support. A $1,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the attacker(s). The Mandir’s leadership is also appealing to the broader community to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
This is not the first time a Hindu place of worship in the United States has been targeted. In March 2024, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills, California, was desecrated with graffiti just days before a controversial Khalistan referendum event in Los Angeles. Earlier, the Sherawali Mandir in Hayward and a Swaminarayan Mandir in Newark were similarly defaced with pro-Khalistan slogans.
The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) has repeatedly documented a sharp uptick in hate speech, misinformation, and attacks targeting Hindus, especially in states with large diaspora populations. Mandirs are not only being vandalised but terrorised.
“The current climate of radicalised identity politics and imported separatist ideologies like Khalistanism has made Hindu institutions in the US vulnerable,” said Suhag Shukla, Executive Director of HAF. “We’re witnessing a steady normalisation of Hinduphobia.”
Built in the early 1990s, the ISKCON Spanish Fork Mandir spans a 10,000-square-foot structure on a 15-acre campus, known for housing cows, llamas, peacocks, and lush gardens. It has been a hub of interfaith dialogue, yoga, Vedic studies, and Utah’s renowned annual Holi Festival, drawing thousands of attendees each year.
Now, the spiritual haven has become a crime scene, its sacred walls scarred by bullet holes, its worshippers left in fear. “This Mandir isn’t just a building. It’s our heart, our heritage,” said a tearful devotee who has been attending services for over 15 years. “To see it desecrated like this is beyond heartbreaking—it’s terrifying.”
Multiple Hindu organisations are demanding that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) step in and classify the case under hate crime statutes. They also call for a Congressional hearing into the rising wave of anti-Hindu attacks across North America. “This is not just about one Mandir in Utah. It’s about a larger pattern of intimidation and hate aimed at Hindus across the Western world,” said CoHNA in a statement.
