BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir vandalised in Melville New York (न्यूयॉर्क के मेलविले बीएपीएस श्री स्वामीनारायण मंदिर में तोड़फोड़)

The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Melville, New York was vandalized on Monday and hate messages were scrawled on the temple's sign outside the entrance and on the driveway.Suffolk Police said a man spray-painted threatening and abusive anti-Hindu messages on a walkway and sign at a Hindu temple in Melville, causing damage. Detectives with the Suffolk County Police Hate Crimes Unit are investigating the criminal mischief incident as a hate crime.

Meanwhile, the Consulate General of India in New York has strongly condemned the vandalism at the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Melville and described the act as "unacceptable". This matter has been raised with American authorities. In a post on Twitter, the Consulate General wrote, “The vandalism of the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Melville, New York is unacceptable; Consulate @IndiainNewYork is in touch with the community and has taken up the matter with US law enforcement officials for immediate action against the perpetrators of this heinous act.

Calling it yet another act of "hate" and "intolerance," the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Melville, New York, said in a statement, "Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. Such acts of desecration have occurred at various Hindu temples throughout North America. The same acts have been committed.” Additionally, community members along with some U.S. lawmakers gathered today at the site of the desecration to pray for peace and unity and were supported by local, state and federal leaders representing Long Island, including U.S. Rep. Nick LaLotta. Gave. Tom Suozzi.

This is not the first time that BAPS Swaminarayan Temple has been attacked. A few months ago, similar incidents were reported in Edmonton, Canada.