Days after a mass shooting attempt at a Hindu temple in the US was thwarted, India on Thursday called the incident "disturbing" and said that there is a "need for greater vigilance and zero tolerance for hate-motivated violence" against India-origin persons in the US.
MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal further called upon the US authorities to take "decisive actions" to ensure the safety of the Indian community and bring those responsible for such hate crimes to justice.
"We are deeply concerned by reports of an alleged plot to carry out a mass shooting targeting a Hindu temple in the Aurora area of Illinois. The reported anti-Hindu and racist nature of the alleged plot, including references to violence against people of Indian origin, is particularly disturbing," the MEA said in a statement.
A 19-year-old teenager, identified as Alexandros Paporakis, was arrested on October 11 for plotting the mass shooting. The accused, who described himself as a "white supremacist Neo Nazi", was charged on Wednesday with making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of weapons.
The alleged plot of a mass shooting failed after the accused's rifle jammed when he tried to open fire on the people present at the Hindu temple.
Flagging the rise in anti-India hate crimes in the US, MEA said that this incident has added to the growing concerns over racist hostility against Indians in the US, and called for decisive action against the perpetrators who target the Indian community.
"This incident adds to growing concerns over racist hostility and anti-India hate in the US. There is a need for greater vigilance, zero tolerance for hate-motivated violence, and decisive action to ensure the safety and security of the Indian community," the statement said.
"We expect US authorities to thoroughly investigate the matter, bring those responsible to justice, and take all necessary measures to prevent such incidents," it added.
What Happened In Illinois?
The incident reportedly took place on October 10 when Paporakis, a Taco Bell cashier, went to a Hindu temple in Aurora on Saturday and tried to open fire, but his gun jammed, preventing a mass shooting. The investigation into the case began on October 11, and Paporakis was arrested while he was leaving his residence.
According to the Palatine Police Department, the accused had shared a document outlining an alleged plan to carry out a mass shooting at a Hindu temple, along with images depicting a rifle, rifle magazines, body armour and other tactical equipment.
The investigators recovered a rifle, multiple loaded rifle magazines, hundreds of additional rounds of rifle ammunition, tactical equipment and other items from his home. Among the recovered items was a tactical vest containing body armour and a patch displaying imagery associated with white supremacist extremism.
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Investigators also examined electronic communications and a document attributed to Paporakis titled "Why I Fought: A.K.A.: (Aurora Shooter’s Manifesto)." According to police, the document contained statements expressing white supremacist and extremist ideologies, including references to violence against people of South Asian heritage, particularly those of Indian descent.