India Tribune Newsdesk

Richmond Heights, OH: A Hindu temple in the Greater Cleveland area was vandalized with bricks on October 2, shattering windows while priests and devotees were inside, prompting Hindu American organizations to call for swift action and warning of a possible hate crime.

The attack occurred at about 1:30 p.m. at the Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Temple Vadtaldham in Richmond Heights, according to the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) and the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA). Neither organization reported injuries, but photographs and videos shared after the incident showed damage to the temple’s windows and exterior.

The HAF said surveillance footage from the incident is available and is being reviewed by law enforcement authorities. The organization said it was in contact with temple leaders and was offering assistance. It also said the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice were being alerted.

“This possible hate crime comes at a time of unprecedented hate and vitriol directed at the Hindu American community,” the HAF said, urging law enforcement to make identifying and apprehending those responsible a priority. The foundation also called on elected officials and government agencies to publicly and unequivocally condemn hateful rhetoric targeting Hindu and Indian American communities.

HAF Executive Director Suhag Shukla condemned the attack, saying that online hostility had now “morphed into a real-world attack on a Hindu temple” and urging authorities to review the surveillance video and apprehend the perpetrator.

CoHNA described the incident as a fresh example of “Hinduphobia” and urged Richmond Heights Mayor Kim Thomas and city officials to condemn the attack. The group also called on Richmond Heights police to take immediate action against those responsible.

The attack has caused particular concern because it occurred as Ohio’s Hindu community prepares to observe Hindu Heritage Month and celebrate Navratri, the Hindu festival honoring the Divine Feminine, in less than 10 days.

The Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA claimed that more than 15 incidents of vandalism targeting Hindu temples have been reported across the United States over the past five years, including six incidents involving BAPS temples.

The incident comes amid broader concerns over anti-Hindu and anti-South Asian hostility in the United States, including online harassment, racial slurs and vandalism targeting religious and community institutions. Hindu advocacy groups have previously reported vandalism at Hindu temples and religious sites in New York, California and other states.

Authorities have not publicly established a motive for the Ohio attack, and the investigation remains ongoing.