BAPS Temple Attack in New York – Hate Crime by Khalistani Groups: Intelligence Sources Tell News18

The attack on a temple in New York was a hate crime carried out by Khalistani groups, senior intelligence sources told CNN-News18 on Tuesday.

Videos circulating online showed the road and signage outside the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville being sprayed with abusive words. The Indian Consulate in New York described the incident as “unacceptable” and contacted US law enforcement authorities to take immediate action against the perpetrators.

“The vandalism at the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Melville, New York is unacceptable. The Consulate @IndiainNewYork is in touch with the community and has raised the matter with US law enforcement authorities for immediate action against the perpetrators of this heinous act,” the consulate said in a post on social media site X.

The United States and Canada have become breeding grounds for Khalistani separatists who attack temples to spread fear and terror in places where Hinduism is consolidating, intelligence sources say.

Melville is about 18 miles from the 1,600-seat Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a major community event on September 22 as part of his visit to the United States.

According to the sources, there have been numerous incidents of vandalism by Khalistani separatists at Hindu temples in different parts of the world.

In April 2023, a BAPS temple in Windsor, Canada, was vandalized with anti-India graffiti. A similar incident occurred in February 2023 at a temple in the municipality of Mississauga, Canada.

“It is routine for these Khalistani groups and the Sikh for Justice group to commit such acts,” said an intelligence source. “They are constantly creating tension around Indian consulates and missions in the UK, US and Canada. These groups are funded by the ISI to create unrest and insult Hindus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India.”

According to sources, the Sikhs are against these activities, but a select group of separatists who regularly visit Gurdwaras in these countries do so.

“Because of their presence in Gurdwaras, people think that this is what Sikhs are doing, which is not true,” said a source. “All Gurdwaras are self-funding, but a select group are doing this after receiving foreign funds from the ISI and defaming Sikhs. BAPS is doing fantastic work all over the world, including charity work for cancer patients in these countries.”

The Pakistani intelligence service ISI does not want large Hindu organizations to grow in countries where there is a consolidation of the community, the sources said.

“BAPS is fully supported and our mission leaders are in constant contact; we will soon work out security mechanisms,” a source said.