New York: After a Hindu temple was vandalised in United States’ California by pro-Khalistani vandals, the foreign ministry of the country has condemned the incident, welcoming the efforts by the police to ensure those responsible are held accountable on Saturday, December 23. 

The Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu Temple in Newark, California was vandalised with anti-India graffiti and the police are investigating the matter as a possible hate crime.

"We condemn the vandalism of Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu Temple in California. We welcome efforts by the Newark Police Department to ensure that those responsible are held accountable," the US State Department's Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs said in a post on social media platform X.

This comes after the Indian Consulate General in San Francisco had sought prompt action in the matter, asserting that the incident has hurt the Hindus living in the United States. “This incident has hurt the sentiments of the Indian community. We have pressed for quick investigation and prompt action against the vandals by the US authorities in this matter,” said the Indian Consulate in a post on X.  

Hindu temple vandalised in California 

On December 23, the Hindu American Foundation shared images claiming that the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu Temple in Newark, California has been defaced and pro-Khalistani, anti-India graffiti was scribbled on the temple’s walls and singhboards. 

According to the temple administration, the incident took place on the night of Thursday, December 22. "One of the devotees, who lives close to the shrine, discovered anti-Hindu and anti-India graffiti in black ink on an exterior wall of the building, and the local administration was immediately informed," Bhargav Raval, the spokesperson for the temple administration said.

Reacting strongly, the Newark Police has launched an investigation to nab the vandals, calling it a “targeted act”. Police Captain from Newark Police Jonathan Arguello said, “Based on the graffiti, we believe it was a targeted act, and it's going to be investigated with full thoroughness. I can also tell you that as a member of the Newark Police Department and the Newark community, we're deeply saddened when these types of acts occur. We think they're senseless and have no room. We won't tolerate them here in Newark.” 

(With agency inputs).