An overnight incident Wednesday that included Hinduphobic messages at a temple near Sacramento are being investigated as a hate crime.
Deputies with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department says someone spraypainted disturbing graffiti and damaged property at BAPS Shri Swarminarayan Mandir in Mather.
“It was disheartening, it was saddening, especially to see messages like ‘Hindus go back…’ we have no room for hate here,” said Paragi Patel, the outreach coordinator to Fox40.
CBS Sacramento reported the messages left were also critical of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The vandals also cut water pipes which authorities say indicates they were more interested in causing damage than burglarizing the temple.
This was the second such incident in two weeks, according to ABP Live.
“Less than 10 days after the desecration of the @BAPS Mandir in New York, our Mandir in the Sacramento, CA area was desecrated last night with anti-Hindu hate: “Hindus go back!” We stand united against hate with prayers for peace.”
The India Consulate General’s office in San Francisco issued a statement Thursday condemning the incident.
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