WASHINGTON, Oct 15: India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, has strongly condemned an alleged plot to carry out a mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois, describing the incident as deeply disturbing and warning that racist violence has no place in a civilised society.
Kwatra’s remarks came a day after a teenager was arrested for allegedly planning a mass shooting targeting the Hindu temple. The incident has raised concerns among members of the Indian-American community over the safety of religious institutions and the growing threat of anti-Hindu and anti-India hatred.
“The attempted mass shooting at the Hindu temple in Aurora is deeply disturbing. Racist violence, including anti-Hindu and anti-India hate, has no place in a civilised society,” Kwatra said in a post on X.
The alleged plot has also drawn the attention of US authorities. Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the US Department of Justice, said her division would review and investigate the incident.
“Concerning. @CivilRights will review/investigate,” Dhillon wrote on X.
Several Indian-American organisations have condemned the alleged attack and called for stronger measures to protect Hindu communities and their places of worship.
The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) said the incident highlighted the potential consequences of growing hostility towards Indians and Hindus.
The organisation warned that anti-India and anti-Hindu hatred was not confined to online discussions or political rhetoric, but could develop into real-world threats against communities and religious institutions.
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) urged elected representatives and law enforcement agencies to take threats against Hindu temples seriously. It called for improved security arrangements and clear condemnation of anti-Hindu prejudice.
CoHNA also advised temples and community organisations to review their security protocols, remain alert to suspicious activities and promptly inform law enforcement authorities about potential threats.
Suhag Shukla, executive director of the Hindu American Foundation, expressed concern over the growing hostility directed at Hindu communities. She warned that online hate could contribute to the radicalisation of individuals and increase the risk of violence against religious institutions.
The incident comes amid concerns over a series of attacks and acts of vandalism targeting Hindu religious sites in different parts of the United States.
Earlier this month, the Swaminarayan Hindu Temple Vadthaldham in the greater Cleveland area of Ohio was vandalised by unidentified individuals.
In 2025, a Hindu temple in Spanish Fork, Utah, was targeted by gunfire. Several other temples have also reportedly been defaced with hateful messages, including four in California and three in New York, according to community representatives.
CoHNA has additionally raised concerns over repeated calls to demolish the Hanuman statue in Sugar Land, Texas.
The latest incident has renewed calls from Hindu-American groups for authorities to address religious intolerance, strengthen protections for places of worship and investigate threats before they escalate into violence.
Community organisations have stressed that safeguarding religious freedom requires cooperation between law enforcement agencies, elected officials, temple management committees and local residents.
As the investigation proceeds, members of the Indian-American community are seeking accountability and stronger preventive measures to ensure that Hindu temples and other religious institutions remain safe spaces for worship and community activities.