Melbourne: Days After Attack On BAPS Temple, Khalistani Goons Now Target Historic Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple

Days after the attack on BAPS Swaminaryan temple in Melbourne's northern suburb of Mill Park, the Khalistani goons have now targeted another Hindu temple in the city.

The Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple, one of the iconic Hindu temples outside the Indian subcontinent, in Melbourne's Carrum Downs was vandalised by Khalistan supporters with anti-Hindu and anti-India graffiti.

The vandalism was discovered by devotees who came for 'darshan' at temple on Monday (16 January) during the Tamil Hindu community's celebration of the "Thai Pongal" festival.

Devotees, including Usha Senthilnathan, have spoken out against the vandalism and called for action to be taken against the individuals responsible.

Senthilnathan, a long-time devotee of the temple, said in an interview with The Australia Today, “We are a Tamil minority group in Australia, a lot of us came as refugees to escape the religious persecution.”

"This is my place of worship and it’s not acceptable to me that these individuals are vandalising it with their hate messages without any fear," she said.

"I urge Premier Dan Andrews and Victoria Police to take strict action against these goons who are trying to scare the Victorian Hindu community," Senthilnathan added.

On Sunday (15 January) evening, Khalistan supporters tried to draw support for their referendum through a car rally in Melbourne but failed miserably as less than 200 people out of almost 60,000-strong Melbourne community gathered at the event.

Earlier on 12 January, Khalistani goons attacked and vandalised BAPS Swaminarayan temple in Melbourne's northern suburb of Mill Park with anti-India and pro-Khalistan graffiti.

According to the reports, Khalistani goons recorded a video of their despicable act of vandalising the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir and later shared it on the social media.