NYPD seeks public assistance in tracing the whereabouts of miscreants
NYPD seeks public assistance in tracing the whereabouts of miscreants
In a possible hate crime, a group of six unidentified individuals hammered a handcrafted statue of Mahatma Gandhi at a Hindu temple in New York earlier this month.
India on Friday strongly condemned the “disgusting action” and took up the matter with US authorities to ensure that those responsible for the act are held accountable.
The New York City Police Department said in a statement PTI The U.S. said it was reported to police on 16 August that “a group of six unidentified male persons” damaged and smashed a religious idol with a “hammer” in front of the Tulsi Temple located at 103-26 111 Street.
“The male men then fled to Liberty Avenue and rammed into two vehicles, a white Mercedes Benz and a dark Toyota Camry, with a possible taxi/liverry sticker on the rear passenger window,” it said, adding that the miscreants nearly were of age. 25 to 30 years.
The NYPD has sought the public’s assistance in tracing the whereabouts of the miscreants and urged anyone with information related to the incident to call its Crime Stoppers hotline or submit their suggestions on the Crime Stoppers website.
“In an act that has angered the entire Queens community and peace loving people around the world, the statue of Mahatma Gandhi outside Shri Tulsi Temple was vandalized for the second time,” Jennifer Rajkumar, Lady of the New York State Assembly, said in a statement on Thursday. “This time, the statue was completely destroyed and painted with obscene names. Temple grounds and 111th Street asphalt were also vandalised,” the Indian-American lawmaker said.
According to cbsnews.com, surveillance video shows a man thrashing a Gandhi statue with a hammer on Tuesday, then beheading it and knocking it down.
A few minutes later, a group of six people stomp on it and take turns hitting the statue with hammers before it can be taken down.
“It is very painful to see him following us like this,” the report quoted Lakhram Maharaj, the founder of the Shri Tulsi Temple in South Richmond Hill, as saying.
Maharaj came to know that the Gandhi statue had turned into rubble on Wednesday morning.
The words “dog” and “Gandpi dog” were spray painted in front of the temple and at the bottom of the block.
Maharaj says that many people in the community are now afraid to go to the temple.
“I can’t show the congregation that I’m worried because if I show them that I’m worried and I’m not strong, how will they be strong?” The report quoted him as saying. The report said that the temple authorities could not afford to replace the Gandhi statue, as it was handcrafted and cost around US$4,000.
Maharaj said, “I want to know why he did this.”
Investigating officials said that the same statue of Gandhi was vandalized two weeks ago.
“When Gandhi’s statue was vandalized, that was really against all our beliefs and it was very disturbing for the community,” said the prince, the first South Asian woman to be elected to the New York State Assembly.
Rajkumar, who represents the Queens region, said in the statement that he has spoken to Commissioner of Police Keikant Sewell and the 106th Precinct Commanding Officer Captain Jerome Bachi and “they are taking this incident seriously and as a potential hate crime.” I am investigating it”.
“I call for the speedy arrest, charge and trial of the perpetrators to the fullest extent of the law,” she said.
Since the targeting of the Gandhi statue and the Hindu temple, Rajkummar said he has received support from people not only in Queens, but around the world.
“I have spoken to government leaders across the country. All are committed to redouble our efforts to combat anti-Hindu hatred. We always knew that defeating hatred will take a day, a week or a year. also will not complete.
“We are committed to this fight for the long term, and will use the Hindu principles of ahimsa (non-violence) and satyagraha (spirit power) that guided Gandhi himself and later the great American civil rights hero Martin Luther King, Jr. ” he said.
Meanwhile, the Consulate General of India in New York said in a statement on Friday that it “strongly condemns the demolition of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi outside a temple in Queens, New York. We have taken up the matter with the US authorities”. and demanded a thorough investigation so that those responsible for such heinous actions can be held accountable.Non-profit organization Cityline Ozone Park Civilian Patrol said that it is deeply saddened by the news of the demolition of Tulsi temple.
This is not the first time something like this has happened, and it must be stopped. We must work together to send a clear message that hate crimes against any religion will not be tolerated.
Ankur Vaidya, president of the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA), an expatriate organization, condemned the “cowardly act”, saying, “We sincerely ask the Mayor’s Office and the NYPD to investigate this malicious act as a hate crime and bring these perpetrators to justice.” It is clear that those who perpetuate such barbarism will have a desire and intent to harbor more malice to create a negative sensation.” He said the incident was an act of hatred and aggression and has been repeated more times this year than in the history of the city.
In February, the 8-foot-tall Gandhi statue in Manhattan’s Union Square was defaced by unidentified persons.
In December 2020, Khalistani-supporters desecrated a Gandhi statue in Washington, DC in front of the Indian embassy.
The then White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, described the incident as “horrific”.