
Hindu temple desecrated in U.S., Indian consulate calls it ‘reprehensible'
The "hateful act" took place at the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Greenwood city, the temple's official public affairs account said in an X post on Tuesday (August 12, 2025).
This was the fourth time in less than a year that a BAPS temple has been targeted, it said.
The Indian Consulate in Chicago took strong note of the act and called it "reprehensible".
'Desecration of main signboard of the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Greenwood, Indiana is reprehensible,' it said in an X post, adding that it has raised the matter with the law enforcement authorities for 'prompt action'.
Desecration of main signboard of the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Greenwood, Indiana is reprehensible. The Consulate is in touch with the community and has raised the matter with law enforcement authorities for prompt action. Today Consul General addressed a gathering of devotees… — India in Chicago (@IndiainChicago) August 12, 2025
It added that the consul general also addressed a gathering of devotees and local leadership including the Mayor of Greenwood, 'calling for unity & solidarity, and vigilance against miscreants there.'
The temple administration in its post also said that the act has 'strengthened our community's resolve, and we remain united in our stand against anti-religious behaviour.'
In March, the BAPS Hindu temple in California was desecrated by some unknown person in another such incident in the U.S.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Indian Express
5 minutes ago
- Indian Express
13 dead, 21 blind after drinking tainted alcohol in Kuwait; Indians among victims
A spate of methanol poisoning from contaminated alcohol in Kuwait has left 13 people dead and 21 others blind or with impaired vision, the country's health ministry said. According to Reuters and AFP, 63 people, all from Asian nationalities, have been hospitalised since Saturday after consuming illicit liquor. Of them, 51 required urgent kidney dialysis, while 31 needed mechanical ventilation. The Embassy of India in Kuwait, on August 13, confirmed that around 40 Indian nationals have been admitted to various hospitals in recent days. 'There have been some fatalities, some are in a critical condition while others are recovering,' the embassy said in a statement posted on X, adding that it is seeking further details from authorities. 🔔 Press Release — India in Kuwait (@indembkwt) August 13, 2025 Kuwait has not officially disclosed the victims' nationalities, but unconfirmed reports suggest that some of the deceased may be Malayalis and Tamilians, along with nationals from Nepal. Kuwait has enforced a strict ban on alcohol imports since 1964, criminalising its consumption in the 1980s. Despite this, illicit alcohol is often brewed in secret facilities lacking any safety oversight, making drinkers vulnerable to methanol contamination, as per Reuters . The Gulf state has a large expat workforce, including many from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, particularly in construction, domestic work, and retail. (With inputs from Reuters, AFP)


India Today
5 minutes ago
- India Today
All noise: DK Shivakumar calls Dharmasthala case ‘conspiracy to tarnish legacy'
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday alleged that the Dharmasthala mass burial claims were part of a conspiracy aimed at damaging the centuries-old legacy of the temple town.'A conspiracy is being hatched, I don't want to say right now who is behind it. It's a well-planned strategy to put a black mark on them,' Shivakumar said, adding 'I don't want to get into who is doing what, but there is a conspiracy to tarnish a legacy that spans hundreds of years.' He added that the controversy arose from a single complaint by an unknown Deputy Chief Minister said he had asked for action against those misleading the investigation, adding that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had echoed the same. 'I have information about this case, it's just an empty trunk; there's nothing in it, only noise,' he stressed that neither he nor the government was for or against Dharmasthala.'I've seen the devotion in the temple. In the investigation, the conspiracy will be unravelled in the coming days. It's my individual experience. The Home Minister will answer in the Assembly and present the truth to the people. He will speak on whether there is a conspiracy or not. People should not lie or make statements about it. If there's a lie in this Dharmasthala issue, there will be action, that's the government's view. Law is not above anyone, and the law needs to be protected,' he said. Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka demanded that the state government reveal the identity of the masked man who led police to the excavation site and hand over the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Ashoka alleged that despite spending over Rs 1 crore and deploying heavy machinery, drones, and modern equipment, the investigation had yielded nothing.'Who is this man directing the digging? People say his name is Chinnayya and that he has converted to Christianity. The police give him security, feed him biryani, and follow his instructions. But not even a mouse has been found,' he accused the Congress government of insulting Dharmasthala's Manjunatha Swami temple and alleged there was a pattern of targeting Hindu religious sites, citing Tirupati, Shabarimala, and Shani Singnapur. He also raised doubts about another complainant, Sujata Bhat, claiming her story was fabricated.- EndsTune InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Karnataka


News18
33 minutes ago
- News18
UAE-Based Indian Businessman Kidnapped In Kerala, Ex-Employee Among Six Held By Police
Last Updated: Businessman VP Shameer was rescued by police after he was kidnapped in Kerala. Police suspect his former employee, Puthu Veettil Shamseer, is the mastermind behind the crime. A UAE-based Indian businessman was kidnapped during his visit to Kerala, on Tuesday evening. Fortunately, he was rescued in time by police, who suspect his former employee is the mastermind behind the kidnapping, Hindustan Times reported. According to Gulf News, the 36-year-old businessman, VP Shameer, was kidnapped at around 7:45pm on Tuesday while he was on his way back home. The assailants reportedly intercepted bike-borne Shameer in Malappuram, forcefully pulling him into a Toyota Innova. Police Scan CCTV Footage Soon after police received information about the crime, they launched an investigation. Acting swiftly, police scanned CCTV footage and used location tracking to trace the movement of the vehicle in which the man was pulled inside. Early leads came from questioning those who had provided the car to the accused. The investigation then expanded to Kollam, where local police joined forces with their Malappuram counterparts after uncovering connections to acquaintances of the suspects in the district. According to a report in Manorama, a key breakthrough came when Shameer's phone was switched on twice in Ernakulam, helping police narrow down his location. On Wednesday, the kidnappers contacted Shameer's business partner in the UAE, demanding a ransom of Rs 1.5 crore for his release. Meanwhile, Shameer's wife received threat calls warning her not to involve cops. On Thursday, in a joint operation, Malappuram and Kollam police rescued the man at around 11:30am. He was found inside a vehicle in Kuruvikkonam in Kollam as the kidnappers reportedly planned to move him across the border into Tamil Nadu. Six Arrested Subsequently, police made six arrests in the case. The arrested accused include Puthu Veettil Shamseer (30) – former employee and alleged mastermind–, Achikka alias Hamseer (30), Fayas alias Mustafa (28), Afzal (30) from Ponnani, Muhammad Naif (29) from Kollam and Shaheer (30) from Kollam. According to police, the alleged mastermind had previously worked on over 50 business ventures with VP Shameer but was dismissed following internal disputes. His dismissal allegedly led to resentment, and he had earlier issued threats against the businessman. Shameer Alleges Assault VP Shameer, who operates a chain of pharmacy stores in the UAE, alleged he was assaulted during the abduction. He was to be taken for medical examination following his rescue. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.