Our Bureau
Newark, CA
Suspected pro-Khalistan activists allegedly defaced the Swaminarayan temple in Newark, California. The exterior wall of the Hindu temple was defaced with anti-India graffiti. The Newark Police Service has already started an investigation.
According to the temple administration, the incident took place on Thursday night.
“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, who added that the temple authorities were shocked to find the anti-Indian graffiti on its wall.
Jonathan Arguello, a police captain for the city of Newark, said the ‘targeted act’ was being investigated.
“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, and we think they’re senseless and they have no room. We won’t tolerate them here in Newark. So today, I wanted to make sure that you understand how seriously we take these situations and know that we will investigate as thoroughly as possible with utmost care and sensitivity. I can also tell you that officers are currently investigating this via evidence collection,” Jonathan Arguello, a police captain for the city of Newark, said.
The police official said to piece together the chain of events leading to the act of defacement, the footage from surveillance cameras in the neighbouring residences were being looked into.
Meanwhile, several US lawmakers, including 3 prominent Indian-American Congressmen, have strongly condemned the vandalism of a Hindu temple in California.
Congressman Ro Khanna, who represents California’s 17th Congressional District located in Silicon Valley, said in a post on X that he strongly condemns the “defacing” of the Swaminarayan temple in Newark, California which is in his district.
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi termed the defacing of the Swaminarayan temple as “despicable” and said he strongly condemns it. Krishnamoorthi, the US representative for Illinois’s 8th congressional district, said he is glad the community is rallying in support of the mandir.
