• Source:ANI
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After a prominent Hindu temple was vandalised with with anti-India and pro-Khalistani graffiti in California's Newark city, the Indian consulate in San Francisco on Saturday condemned the defacement of the Swaminarayan Mandir and said the incident has hurt the sentiments of the Indian community.

ALSO READ: Hindu Temple Defaced With Pro-Khalistan, Anti-India Slogans In California; Probe On

The embassy called for a quick investigation into the matter and prompt action against the accused. "We strongly condemn the defacing of SMVS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir at Newark, California with anti-India graffiti. This incident has hurt the sentiments of the Indian community. We have pressed for quick investigation and prompt action against the vandals by the US authorities in this matter," a post on the official X handle of the Consulate General of India in San Francisco read.

On Friday, the City of Newark Police Department in Newark said they received a report of graffiti at the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu Temple at approximately 8:35 AM. Officers responded and met with temple leaders who described the vandalism as meant to intimidate them.

"Based on the content of the graffiti it is believed that the defacement was a targeted act, and the vandalism is being investigated as a possible hate crime," the statement said, news agency PTI reported.

Meanwhile, the Hindu American Foundation also urged the Newark police to investigate the incident as a hate crime. "Swaminarayan Mandir Vasana Sanstha in Newark, California was defaced with pro-#Khalistan slogans. @NewarkCA_Police and @CivilRights have been informed and full investigation will follow. We are insisting that this should be investigated as a hate crime," the official post read.

The vandalism of the Hindu temple in Newark amid allegations of an Indian official's involvement in a conspiracy to assassinate a separatist Sikh leader in the US. The Indian official has been linked by American prosecutors to an individual accused of conspiring to assassinate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the United States.

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