New Delhi: A Sherawali Temple in California’s Hayward has been defaced with pro-Khalistan graffiti, weeks after the Swaminarayan Temple in Newark was also defaced with anti-India graffiti, ANI reported.
The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) in a post on X shared a photo of the defacement.
“Another Bay Area Hindu temple attacked with pro-Khalistan graffiti. The Vijay’s Sherawali Temple in Hayward, CA sustained a copycat defacement just two weeks after the Swaminarayan Mandir attack and one week after a theft at the Shiv Durga temple in the same area. HAF is in touch with temple leaders and in contact with the police,” HAF said in the post.
#Breaking: Another Bay Area Hindu temple attacked with pro-#Khalistan graffiti.
The Vijay’s Sherawali Temple in Hayward, CA sustained a copycat defacement just two weeks after the Swaminarayan Mandir attack and one week after a theft at the Shiv Durga temple in the same area.… pic.twitter.com/wPFMNcPKJJ
— Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) January 5, 2024
The HAF highlighted the importance of installing security cameras and alarm systems, considering the rising threat from Khalistanis.
“We are once again encouraging all temple leaders to download the Hindu American temple safety guide… The guide specifically discusses that temple graffiti qualifies as a hate crime and also the importance of installing working security cameras and alarm systems in view of the rising threat from Khalistan proponents as well as the omnipresent risk from anti-Hindu actors,” the HAF said.
We are once again encouraging all temple leaders to download the @HinduAmerican temple safety guide https://t.co/zJnU1pdIl4
The guide specifically discusses that temple graffiti qualifies as a hate crime and also the importance of installing working security cameras and alarm… pic.twitter.com/IbJ16Y0t3o
— Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) January 5, 2024
In December, suspected pro-Khalistan activists had allegedly defaced the Swaminarayan temple in Newark, police had said. The exterior wall of the Hindu temple was defaced with anti-India graffiti.
The Newark Police Service had started an investigation into the vandalism. “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, told ANI.
