Hindu temple in Cary, North Carolina, vandalised, police on the lookout for 5 people

A Hindu temple in Cary, North Carolina, was damaged last weekend. Police have started an investigation. The incident happened around 3 a.m. on Sunday, according to the police. Security cameras at the Sri Venkateswara Temple of North Carolina, near downtown Cary, recorded what happened.

The video shows five people leaving the temple area in a car and quickly driving away after causing damage. The damaged object is a Dvarapalaka statue. These statues show guardian gods and are usually placed at the entrance of temples, as reported by the News Observer. Photos released by police show one arm of the statue was cut off.

Police look for suspects

The Cary Police Department is trying to find the five people who damaged the property. Cary Town Council member Sarika Bansal spoke strongly against this act. She is the first Indian-American council member in the town.


She said the vandalism is very upsetting and not acceptable at all. She also said Cary is a place where people from all backgrounds are welcome, and acts like this should never happen there. She added that the town supports the Sri Venkateswara Temple and the whole community during this time.

The Sri Venkateswara Temple serves nearly 21,000 Hindus in the Triangle area of North Carolina, as per the report by News Observer. Cary has a large Indian and Southeast Asian population, making the temple very important to local residents. Nearly half of the residents in nearby Morrisville are Indian and Southeast Asian.

Largest hindu temple in US

The temple is about 10 years old and is the largest Hindu temple of its kind in the United States. Major expansions were completed in 2022, including the addition of an 87-foot tall gold tower. Other Hindu leaders also spoke out against the vandalism, including the Hindu American Foundation. In a letter shared on X, the group called the incident an “attack on a religious community.”

The organization said the sanctity of the temple has not been compromised. They confirmed that priests and advisors are guiding the temple on proper religious repair procedures, as noted by the News Observer. Police are continuing their investigation and are asking for help to identify the five suspects seen on camera.

FAQs

Q1. What happened at the Hindu temple in Cary, North Carolina?

A Hindu temple was vandalised, and a statue at the temple was damaged, leading police to start an investigation.

Q2. Are police searching for suspects in the Cary temple vandalism case?

Yes, police are looking for five people seen on security cameras leaving the temple after the incident.