NEW DELHI: The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has urged the US administration to take immediate and concrete measures to protect Hindu temples following a brick attack on the Shri Swaminarayan Vadtal Dham temple in Richmond Heights, Ohio. Citing a series of attacks and vandalism incidents targeting Hindu places of worship across the United States, VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal demanded an impartial investigation, the arrest of those responsible and stronger security protocols to prevent further incidents.
On October 3, Bansal said that the repeated attacks on Hindu temples and Indian cultural centres in the US could no longer be dismissed as routine acts of vandalism. Bricks were hurled at the Ohio temple on October 2, while priests and devotees were present inside the premises. The attack has led to shattering of windows and doors of the temple.
In a post on X, Bansal said that the CCTV footage was available for investigation and questioned the apparent silence of the local administration over the incident. “Repeated attacks and vandalism at Hindu temples in America cannot now be ignored by treating them as ordinary vandalism”, he said, urging American authorities to take the security of Hindu religious institutions seriously.
अमेरिका में हिंदू मंदिरों पर लगातार हो रही तोड़फोड़ और हमलों को अब सामान्य वैंडलिज्म मानकर नज़रअंदाज़ नहीं किया जा सकता। रिचमंड हाइट्स, ओहायो के श्री स्वामीनारायण वड़तालधाम मंदिर पर कल यानी 2 अक्टूबर को उस समय ईंटें फेंकी गईं जब मंदिर में पुजारी और श्रद्धालु भी मौजूद थे;…
— विनोद बंसल Vinod Bansal বিনোদ বনসল వినోద్ బన్సాల్ (@vinod_bansal) October 3, 2026
Series of attacks on Hindu temples raises concern over minority safety in the US
Highlighting previous incidents, Bansal maintained that the Ohio attack was neither the first nor an isolated case. He cited several instances in which Hindu temples, religious symbols and Indian cultural centres were allegedly targeted across the country.
In August 2022, a statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Shri Tulsi Mandir complex in Queens, New York, was vandalised. In December 2023, objectionable slogans were reportedly scrawled at the SMVS Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Newark, California.
Bansal also referred to vandalism incidents at BAPS temples in Melville, New York, and California, in September 2024. In March 2025, the BAPS temple in Chino Hills, California, was defaced with hateful messages. He further cited reported incidents involving a shooting at a temple in Spanish Fork, Utah, hateful messages on a temple sign in Greenwood, Indiana, and damage to a temple idol in Cary, North Carolina, arguing that the incidents warranted greater attention from American authorities.
The VHP spokesperson also questioned the role of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), accusing it of being vocal on issues concerning India while allegedly failing to adequately address attacks on Hindu religious institutions within the United States. “Will USCIRF, which is quick to peddle anti-India falsehoods at every opportunity, ever speak out on this reality?” Bansal asked.
Demanding accountability, he called for impartial investigations, the identification and arrest of those responsible and the implementation of effective security arrangements at Hindu temples. He also urged authorities to act against individuals responsible for spreading religious hatred.
Emphasising the wider concerns of the Hindu community, Bansal asserted that the attacks on religious and cultural institutions should not be tolerated anywhere in the world. “The Hindu community will not silently accept attacks on its religious, cultural and places of worship anywhere in the world”, he said, reiterating the VHP’s demand for immediate measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
