New York: In the latest attack on Hindu houses of worship in the US, a temple has been vandalised in Texas “horrifying” both Hindus and non-Hindus, who have offered to help the temple clean the damage, media reported.
In the attack at 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 reported that a temple board member, Krishna Singh, said mandir members discovered the graffiti last Monday. “That was a big shock, really,” the network quoted her as saying.
“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.
Dallas police have sent detectives from their gang unit to investigate the incident, according to WFAA, an ABC network affiliated local station.
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. (IANS)
