Greenwood, IN, August 14, 2025: The principle signboard of the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Greenwood, Indiana, was defaced with hateful graffiti in a single day on August 10, in what neighborhood leaders and advocacy teams are calling a disturbing act of anti-Hindu bigotry.

Temple volunteers found the vandalism early the following morning and reported it to the Greenwood Police Division. The graffiti, described by a volunteer as “a message of hate and intolerance towards Hindus,” was rapidly eliminated, however not earlier than images circulated on-line, sparking outrage.

The Consulate Normal of India in Chicago condemned the desecration as “reprehensible” and raised the matter with native legislation enforcement. Consul Normal Somnath Ghosh met with devotees, native leaders, and Greenwood Mayor Mark Myers, urging unity and vigilance towards “the designs of miscreants.”

That is the fourth incident in lower than a yr focusing on a BAPS temple in the USA, following related acts of vandalism in California and New York. Hindu advocacy organizations, together with the Hindu American Basis (HAF) and the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), have linked the graffiti to ways utilized by pro-Khalistan extremist teams and referred to as for the case to be investigated as a hate crime.

“When locations of worship are repeatedly focused, the promise of spiritual freedom begins to really feel hole for minority communities,” CoHNA stated in a press release.

The Greenwood Police Division has not launched particulars on suspects or motives, however neighborhood members say the sample of assaults underscores the necessity for stronger safety measures and swift accountability.

In March this yr, the BAPS temple in Chino Hills, California, was spray-painted with anti-Hindu slogans, together with “Hindustan Murdabad,” and derogatory remarks about India’s Prime Minister. That case, just like the Greenwood incident, drew condemnation from Indian officers and prompted a hate crime investigation.