Hindu temple vandalised in US

IANS NEW YORK, APRIL 20 A temple was vandalised in the US, “horrifying” both Hindus and non-Hindus who have offered to help the temple clean the damage, media reports said. There have been a string of attacks on Hindu places of worship in the country. In the attack on the North Texas Hindu Mandir in Lake Highlands suburb of Dallas, vandals painted symbols of devil worship on the temple’s door, media reports said on Saturday. The attackers left behind on a shed at the temple the mark of Mara Salvatrucha, an international gang originating among immigrants from the predominantly Catholic nation of El Salvador and active in the US. The 11CBS network in Dallas-Fort Worth area quoted temple board member, Krishna Singh, as saying that mandir members discovered the graffiti on April 13. “That was a big shock, really,” she said. “It makes me sad inside,” a nine-year-old child, Gracie Reed, told 11CBS. “To me, it’s really horrifying because I don’t know who would do this to a church,” the child said referring to the house of worship. Detectives from the gang unit have been sent to investigate the incident, according to WFAA, an ABC network affiliated local station. The attack is the latest in a series of attacks on Hindu places of worship. Two temples were vandalised in Washington State in north-west US in February. In August, a statue of Lord Shiva at the Vishwa Bhavan Hindu Mandir in Monroe in the state of Georgia was desecrated with black paint. Two people were arrested in connection with the attack. Between July and October in Loudon County in Virginia, police documented 17 separate incidents of anti-Hindu vandalism, the Hindu American Foundation said. While the administration of President Barack Obama, who has criticised India over religious tolerance, and Christian leaders have not reacted as of Sunday to the Texas vandalism, non-Hindu neighbours have offered to help the temple. Ted Hoffman, who lives across from the temple, told 11CBS, “We all find it appalling” and the neighbours have offered to help paint over the symbols. The gesture of help from neighbours was welcomed by Hindus. WFAA quoted temple treasurer Karen Snorton as saying she found the offer reassuring. “They’ve been here so that’s a positive thing that’s come out of all of this.” The temple supports community charities like food banks for the poor and an organisation that helps victims of child abuse. Snorton told WFAA that MS-13 was spray-painted on one of the sheds. MS-13 is the abbreviated name and tag or signature of Mara Salvatrucha. According to 11CBS, “666” and an upside cross were painted on the temple door. They symbolise devil worship.