Temple attack ‘sad moment’ for America
Thursday, 19/02/2015
http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=125132&boxid=62021&uid=&dat=2015-02-19
Washington: As police investigated an attack on a Hindu temple in Washington on the eve of the Mahashivaratri, Indian-American groups condemned ‘the cowardly act’ as a ‘very sad moment’ for America.
The vandals who spray-painted a red swastika and scrawled ‘Get Out’ on a wall of the Hindu Temple Cultural Centre in Bothell, 36 km from Seattle, in Washington on Sunday also targeted a nearby school, police said on Tuesday. No suspects have been identified in the case, but the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office said ‘red swastikas’ and warnings for Muslims to ‘go home’ were found on Sunday morning painted on Skyview Junior High School, less than a half mile away.
Bothell Police confirmed that they are now working with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office on the case and believe the two incidents are connected, local King5-TV, an NBC-affiliated television station, reported.
The Northshore School District released a statement saying they were ‘deeply disturbed by the vandalism at Skyview Junior High School’.
At the temple, people were equally upset to hear about the vandalism at the school, KING-5 said.
Nit Niranjan, the Hindu Temple Cultural Centre Chair, said they were focusing on coming together in the aftermath of this act of hate.
Hundreds showed up on Monday night to celebrate Mahashivaratri.
“The people who did it, they have no idea what we stand for,” Niranjan was quoted as saying.
“We have a very straightforward religion that stands for love and respect.”
“Who did it? Why he did it? That’s his problem,” he said. “This is why we pray. We’re not here to punish him.” Vandals also targeted the temple several months ago, although no specific message was left behind.
The graffiti has been removed from the temple, but worshipers fear it could signal violence against them, King5-TV said.
“It is outrageous that such events are happening in America,” said Thomas Abraham, Founder President, Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) International.
