Posted on 07/19/2015 10:51:08 AM PDT by Jyotishi
The Om Hindu Organization of North Carolina is planning to build a 3,600 sq ft temple in Clemmons and has bought 7.6 acres at the site where the sign board, which was shot at, was put. (Representative illustration)
Houston: A sign board for a planned Hindu temple in the US state of North Carolina has been fired at, leaving over 60 holes in the sign, prompting authorities to probe the incident that has shocked the Indian community.
The incident happened sometime between noon July 4 and about 1pm last Saturday, Forsyth county sheriff's office said in a report.
The sheriff's office is investigating the incident in which someone fired a shotgun at a sign for a planned Hindu temple, leaving more than 60 holes in the sign, it said.
A deputy found empty shell casings near the sign that were consistent with bird shot being fired two to three times from a shotgun, Winston-Salem Journal quoted chief deputy Brad Stanley of the sheriff's office as saying.
The sign suffered a damage of $200. Investigators have no leads or suspects, Stanley said.
The Om Hindu Organization of North Carolina is planning to build a 3,600 sq ft temple in Clemmons and has bought 7.6 acres at the site.
"We as American people are fighting hate, standing up to promote tolerance, respect and inclusion," Om Hindu said in a statement on Friday.
"We have no doubts that in long run we will be able to practice our religion and live peacefully in this region and work towards a pluralistic society."
The group also said it was moving forward with its plan for the temple.
The sheriff's office does not have any information that organization was targeted because of its faith, Stanley said.
"It appears just to be vandalism," he said, adding that police have increased its patrols in the area.
Manujunath Shamanna, a member of the organization's board of directors, said that his group first noticed the vandalised sign when its members visited the site last Saturday. The organization then reported it to the sheriff's office.
"It is very disappointing," Shamanna said of the damaged sign. "It could be some kids playing."
About 500 Indian families live in Forsyth county. The vandalism will not affect the organization's plan to build its temple, Shamanna said.
Former Clemmons mayor John Bost offered his apologies for the incident in a post on the paper's Facebook page.
The Reverend Christopher Burcham, pastor at Union Hill Baptist Church, said he and his wife were disappointed when they noticed the vandalized sign on Thursday. His church is about 275 metres from the site of the planned Hindu temple.
The incident comes at the heels of reports of vandalizing of North Texas Hindu Mandir in Dallas in April and vandalizing of two Hindu temples in Seattle metropolitan area of Washington State in February last.
President of Universal Society of Hinduism, Rajan Zed has demanded swift action against the culprits and said the incident has shocked the Hindu community in the US.
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Vandalization Of American Hindu Temples Universal Society Of Hinduism Shotgun Fired At US Hindu Temple Rajan Zed Om Hindu Organization
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Muslim with a shotgun?
Good lord, or the Hindu equivalent. It’s amazing what passes for news these days. Southern boys will shoot signs.
A sign hit with buckshot in North Carolina? Is that supposed to be news? LOL
Oh, and two or three loads of birdshot is not 60 shotgun blasts.
Would somebody please explain to these yahoo idiot vandals the differences between Hindus and Muslims?
Any Hindu would be glad to do so.
(Hint: Hindus aren’t attacking “infidels” or blowing themselves up.)
60 pellet holes is not 60 shotgun blasts!
The Hindus were slaughtered by the millions by the muslims when Islam brought it peace to India.
Actually, India has a real problem with radical Hindus attacking Christian missionaries and converts.
The Hindu Tamil Tigers of Sri Lanks pretty much invented suicide bombing, though AFAIK they never attacked US or other western interests.
“(Hint: Hindus aren’t attacking “infidels” or blowing themselves up.)”
Actually they are.
L
My classmates in HS were Hindus, and Punjabis> Nice people. Pro capitalist. The only thing I couldn;t stand were the smell of curry everyday.
I had to train myself after 9/11. I would become very tense whenever I saw a guy wearing a turban. I later learned that most the men doing this were not Muslim, but Sikh, or Hindu.
The Indian Sikh and hindu are not widely known for international terrorist actions, whereas with Muslims, terror is their middle name and their calling card.
The Sikh males often cause trouble for themselves by insisting on carrying a kirpan, a small sword. More schools are allowing it.
I want a Winston Salem menthol 100m cigarette and I want it now!.
Indians are pretty mellow and laid back and way to many ignorant folks see them as Muslims
IMO, Sikhs & Hindus are our de facto allies against Islam; they’ve suffered quite a lot from Muslim persecutions over the centuries.
In other words, we must learn to curry favor with those who favor curry.
(Oof....)
The good ole boys need a shotgun that shoots a better pattern.
Yeah, that looks like a couple #8 quail/dove shot from some beered-up good old boy. Only a gerbalist could see “60 shotgun blasts”.
IN any event, they’re only heathens so who cares.
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