An ISKCON temple in Utah in the United Sates has come under attack in a suspected hate crime with over two dozen bullets fired at the premises over the past few days, causing significant structural damage.
The incidents occurred during nighttime hours, while devotees and guests were present inside, the ISKCON said in a post on X.
“The ISKCON Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah (USA), world-famous for its Holi Festival, has recently come under attack in suspected hate crimes. Over the past several days, 20–30 bullets were fired at the temple building and the surrounding property,” it said.
“The incidents occurred during nighttime hours, while devotees and guests were present inside, and have resulted in thousands of dollars in structural damage, including to the temple’s hand-carved arches”.
India has condemned the attack and urged authorities to take prompt action to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“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,” the Consulate General of India in San Francisco wrote on X.
Earlier this year, a similar incident occurred in Chino Hills where Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) was found desecrated on March 9, raising concerns about the mounting anti-Hindu sentiments in the region.
Last year, two BAPS temples—one in Sacramento and another in New York—were targeted with messages such as ‘’Hindus go back” found written on the walls.
