Gunshots rang out at the ISKCON Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah, with at least two dozen bullets riddling the building and its surroundings, leaving the Hindu community shaken and the Indian government urging urgent intervention.
The temple, globally known for its grand Holi celebrations and spiritual significance, suffered considerable damage, including to its finely carved arches. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) stated that 20 to 30 bullets were fired during night hours, last week, while devotees and guests were present on the premises. The scale of damage runs into thousands of dollars.
Strong condemnation followed from the Consulate General of India in San Francisco, which issued a statement of solidarity with the temple community.
“We strongly condemn the recent firing incident at the ISKCON Sri Sri Radha Krishna temple in Spanish Fork, Utah. The Consulate extends full support to all the devotees and the community and urges the local authorities to take prompt action to bring the perpetrators to justice,” it said in a post on social media platform X.
Though no injuries were reported, the incident has stirred fresh concerns amid a growing number of attacks on Hindu temples across the United States.
Also read: SC verdict on ISKCON ends 25 yrs old battle of devotees
Earlier this year, the BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha) Hindu temple in Chino Hills, California, was desecrated ahead of a scheduled ‘Khalistan referendum’ in Los Angeles, temple officials had said. That incident involved hateful graffiti and was widely condemned.
BAPS Public Affairs wrote on X, “In the face of another Mandir desecration, this time in Chino Hills, CA, the Hindu community stands steadfast against hate... Our common humanity and faith will ensure that peace and compassion prevail.”
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) also referred to the Chino Hills incident, drawing attention to a broader trend.
“Another Hindu Temple vandalised, this time the iconic BAPS temple in Chino Hills, CA... Not surprisingly, this happens as the day for a so-called 'Khalistan referendum' in LA draws close,” CoHNA stated.
Since 2022, Hindu temples in Sacramento, New York and other US cities have also been targeted. In many of those cases, vandals scrawled messages such as “Hindus go back”, causing fear and outrage across the diaspora.
Despite provocations, community leaders have continued to emphasise resilience and harmony, calling for stronger protections and timely investigations into what they say is a worrying rise in hate-fuelled attacks.
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