Vandalism at BAPS Temple in Indiana: Fourth Incident This Year - Graffiti Supporting Khalistan and Anti-India Messages Suspected - VIDEO
Hate Crimes Target Hindu Temples in the United States: A Growing Concern for the Indian-American Community
A series of disturbing incidents have been reported in recent years, where Hindu temples in the United States have been vandalized and desecrated with anti-India and anti-Hindu messages. These attacks, which have been occurring since late 2023, have raised serious concerns within the Indian-American and Hindu communities about safety and religious freedom.
The latest incident occurred in August 2025, when the main signboard at the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Greenwood, Indiana, was desecrated with graffiti. This marked the fourth such attack on that temple’s premises in less than a year. Previously, temples in several states, including California (Chino Hills, Sacramento, Newark), and New York (Melville), have also been targeted.
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) and BAPS organizations consider these attacks part of a growing coordinated hate campaign. They urge U.S. authorities to investigate and treat them as hate crimes, emphasizing the increasing sense of vulnerability among Indian-American Hindus regarding freedom of religion in the U.S.
The Indian government, including the Ministry of External Affairs and the Consulate General in Chicago, has strongly condemned these acts. They have called for swift law enforcement action, increased security at Indian temples, and community solidarity. U.S. political leaders like Congressman Tom Suozzi have also publicly condemned these hate-driven attacks, calling for prosecution of perpetrators and greater public education against hatred and bigotry.
To combat the threat, BAPS temples have taken enhanced security measures such as hiring guards and installing surveillance cameras. The ongoing pattern of these attacks highlights a disturbing trend of targeted intimidation against the Indian-American Hindu community, particularly centered on highly visible BAPS temples that represent a large segment of Hindu worshippers in the U.S. The incidents not only threaten physical safety but undermine the community’s religious freedom and cultural presence.
The repeated targeting of Hindu temples in the United States is alleged to be a pattern of intimidation aimed at the Indian-American community. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) has called on elected officials to take strict action against the perpetrators and has demanded accountability from elected officials regarding the desecration of the BAPS temple in Greenwood. The HAF has also shared a video of the vandalism on social media, urging the public to stand against hate crimes.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has condemned the desecration of the temple in Southern California and demanded "stringent action" and "adequate security to places of worship". The MEA's condemnation follows a similar one from the Indian government after the desecration of a temple near Sacramento, which was targeted within weeks of the temple near Melville.
As the Indian-American community continues to grow, so does the need for protection and respect for their religious freedom. The ongoing attacks on Hindu temples serve as a stark reminder that more needs to be done to combat hate crimes and ensure the safety and security of all religious communities in the United States.
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