The ISKCON Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah, came under attack in suspected hate crimes, according to a recent social media announcement. Famous for its annual Holi Festival, the temple in the United States was reportedly attacked over the past several days.

“20-30 bullets were fired at the temple building and the surrounding property,” shared the official ISKCON X page. They further shared that the incidents took place during night hours while devotees were still present at the premises. As per the official release, these gunfire attacks have resulted in the establishment incurring structural damage worth thousands of dollars, including the temple’s hand-carved arches.

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ISKCON attack: India urges prompt action

Consequently, the Consulate General of India in San Francisco firmly condemned the shooting incident in 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 India in SF officials shared via X.

A Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sansth (BAPS) Hindu temple in Chino Hills, California, reported a similar ‘Mandir desecration’ incident on March 9. The Coalition of Hindus of North American (CoHNA) linked it to the surging anti-Hindu sentiment overseas, highlighting how the vandalism happened just days ahead of a scheduled “Khalistan referendum” in Los Angeles.

“Another Hindu Temple vandalised, this time the iconic BAPS temple in Chino Hill, CA… Not surprisingly, this happens as the day for a so-called ‘Khalistan referendum’ in LA draws close,” CoHNA wrote on X.

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Earlier last year, the Hindu American Foundation also spoke out about Sherawali Temple in Hawyward, California, being defaced with pro-Khalistan graffiti, just weeks after a Swaminarayan temple in Newark, California, was targeted in a similar “copycat defacement” incident.

“#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. HAF is in touch with temple leaders and in contact with @AlamedaPD & @CivilRights,” the foundation posted on X.