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Alleged Khalistan Activists Vandalize Another Hindu Temple in California With Anti-Modi Graffiti

Alleged Khalistan Activists Vandalize Another Hindu Temple in California With Anti-Modi Graffiti

  • The incident at Vijay’s Sherawali Temple in Hayward comes two weeks after the Swaminarayan Mandir Vasna Sanstha temple in Newark was sprayed with similar messages.

Another Hindu temple in California has been vandalized with anti-Modi graffiti, allegedly by Khalistan activists. The incident at Vijay’s Sherawali Temple in Hayward comes two weeks after the Swaminarayan Mandir Vasna Sanstha (SMVS) temple in Newark was sprayed with similar messages. 

A Facebook post from the Sherawali Temple authorities says the police have classified the incident as a hate crime. “With deep regret we would like to inform you the temple has been vandalized last week,” read a Jan. 2 post. “We have informed the police and they have classified it as a hate crime. A few other Hindu temples in the area have also been vandalized (most likely by the same culprits). We pray for those who wish harm and hatred on others that Mata Rani cleans their souls and gives them happiness and eradicates hate from their hearts.”

In a post on X, the Hindu American Foundation said the latest incident not only follows the Newark temple vandalization but comes “one week after a theft at the Shiv Durga temple in the same area.” The group said it was ‘in touch with temple leaders and in contact with the Alameda Police Department and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.”

Last month, the Newark temple vandalization was condemned by the Department of State and welcomed the police department’s efforts to hold the culprits accountable. The Dec. 21 incident occurred a month after the U.S. accused the  Indian government of plotting to assassinate Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannu. 

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, Indian citizen Nikhil Gupta was “recruited” by an Indian government employee who directed an assassination plot from back home. Authorities allege that Gupta worked with an Indian government employee, identified in the documents as CC-1, who they say directed the assassination plot from India. The indictment added that CC-1 described himself as a “Senior Field Officer” with responsibilities in “Security Management” and “Intelligence.” Gupta is currently in custody and has been charged with murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

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