Another Temple Vandalised With Anti-India Graffiti In Canada, Probe Launched

Windsor police said in a statement that a Hindu temple has been vandalized with anti-India graffiti in Windsor in Canada’s Ontario.

The Windsor Police Department has launched an investigation into the vandalism as a ‘hate-motivated incident’, and two suspects are wanted.

According to the statement, police were dispatched to the Hindu temple on April 5, 2023, in response to a report of hate-motivated vandalism.

In a statement, Windsor Police said, “Officers were called to a Hindu temple in the 1700 block of Northway Avenue on April 5, 2023, after receiving a report of hate-motivated vandalism. Officers discovered anti-Hindu and anti-India graffiti sprayed in black on the building’s exterior wall”.

During the investigation, officers obtained a video showing two suspects in the area shortly after 12 a.m.(local time).

“In the video, one suspect appears to commit vandalism on the building’s wall while the other stands guard”, the statement further read.

Furthermore, the police stated, “One suspect was wearing a black jumper, black trousers with a small white logo on the left leg, and black and white high-top running shoes at the time of the incident. The second suspect was dressed in black trousers, a sweatshirt, black shoes, and white socks”.

Windsor police have asked residents in the temple’s immediate vicinity to check their home surveillance between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. (local time) for evidence of the suspects. Police have asked anyone with information about the incident to contact the Mortality Unit.

Earlier this month, the Ram Mandir in Mississauga, Canada, was vandalized with anti-India graffiti. The Indian Consulate General in Toronto condemned the defacing of the Mandir and urged Canadian authorities to investigate the incident and take swift action against those responsible.

The Consulate General of India in Toronto tweeted, “We have taken up with the Canadian authorities the hateful act of putting anti-India graffiti on the walls of the BAPS Swaminarayan temple in Windsor. We strongly condemn this act of vandalism”, through his official Twitter handle.

A Hindu temple in Brampton was defaced with anti-India graffiti in January, causing outrage among the Indian community. The vandalism at the Gauri Shankar Mandir was condemned by the Consulate General of India in Toronto, who stated that the act had deeply hurt the sentiments of the Indian community in Canada.

According to a statement issued by the consulate office, “We strongly condemn the defacement of Brampton’s Gauri Shankar Mandir, a symbol of Indian heritage, with anti-India graffiti. The Indian community in Canada has been deeply hurt by the heinous act of vandalism. We have expressed our concerns to Canadian authorities”.

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown also condemned the temple vandalism.

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