Religious vandalism has recently occurred in Walsall, West Midlands. The vandals have reportedly broken up the religious statues outside of a Hindu temple. The vandals took a bat and broke the statues in two separate attacks outside the Shree Ram Mandir located in the area.
The temple leaders were completely devastated on finding that the two statues had been destroyed in the vandal attacks. A face of one statue was completely broken off.
Rajan Zed, President of the Universal Society of Hinduism, described the event as heartbreaking and shocking for the entire Hindu community living in the area. He issued a statement and mentioned that it was indeed shocking and disheartening for the Hindus all over the world to hear about such grave incidents happening in a Hindu temple. The signals emitted by the attacks include hatred and intimidation towards the peaceful Hindu community living in this area. The Hindus it must be noted have made significant contributions towards the society and the country as a whole. The barbarous deed has left the Hindu community completely heartbroken.
According to the temple manager, it will be very difficult to replace these two statues. This is because both the statues have to be imported from India. The statues are over twenty two years old and the shipping cost will be huge.
The temple also is a community centre for the people in the area since the 1980’s. The attack is a first of its type and the manager was clueless about why this temple was targeted.
A staff member, Jagu Patel described the attack after seeing CCTV footage of the incident. He described that he saw an individual coming from the side of the temple with a hockey stick or a cricket bat. He constantly hit the statue many times while conversing to his colleagues over the phone who was sitting in a car. He came back and then hit the two statues several times. The vandal also ran away with the face of one of the statues that he had destroyed.
A few statues were destroyed in a first incident that took place outside the temple in Ford Street, Pleck on 10th June at 10 am. A second vandal attack took place nine days later at 11 pm.
The police are looking for information about the vandals who damaged the statues. A staff member was clueless as to why such an attack was done on the temple and also by whom. The act seemed senseless to the temple authorities as this temple is located in a peaceful area of Walsall. The temple authorities mentioned that they always wanted the people to live peacefully and this act is heinous act against their preaching of peace.
West Midlands Police authorities have confirmed that anyone having valuable information about the acts of vandalism must contact the police on 101, quoting crime reference 20WS/147794M/19 or 20WS/137218F/19.
With such barbaric acts happening in the peaceful locality, this will indeed be a shock for the peaceful Hindus living in Walsall.
PRIYANKA DUTTA
