Devotees inside, Hindu temple vandalised, windows shattered in US's Ohio

A Hindu temple in Ohio's Greater Cleveland area was vandalised with bricks, two US-based advocacy groups claimed.

Window panes were shattered in the alleged attack targeting the Swaminarayan Hindu Temple Vadthaldham in the suburban city of Richmond Heights, according to the Hindu American Foundation and the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA).

The incident took place on Friday afternoon, the groups said. Multiple priests and some devotees were inside the temple when the attack took place, CoHNA said.

Describing the incident as "a fresh incident of Hinduphobia," the Hindu advocacy group wrote on X: "This comes as Hindus in Ohio begin celebrating Hindu Heritage Month and honor the Divine Feminine through Navratri in less than 10 days."

It further urged the local mayor, Kim Thomas, to condemn "such bigotry" and the police department to take swift action against those involved in the incident.

Meanwhile, the Hindu American Foundation said the CCTV footage from the scene was being reviewed by law enforcement authorities.

It also said that the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Civil Rights Division of the US Department of Justice were being alerted about the incident.

"This possible hate crime comes at a time of unprecedented hate & vitriol directed at the Hindu American community, and we ask that law enforcement make apprehending the perpetrator(s) a top priority," the Hindu American Foundation said in a post on X.

It also called on government agencies and elected representatives to "publicly & unequivocally condemn hateful rhetoric" against Indian and Hindu American communities.- Ends