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Rediff.com  » News » Australia: Hindu temple comes under attack

Australia: Hindu temple comes under attack

Source: PTI
March 11, 2008 21:07 IST
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A Hindu temple faces escalating attacks over the past two years by groups of teenagers, who destroyed property, terrorised devotees and at one instance, threw eggs at the shrine.

 

The authorities of the Shri Shiva-Vishnu Temple in Carrum Downs in Melbourne have complained to police, who took photos of the damage caused and suggested that surveillance cameras be installed.

 

In one of the more serious incidents, a devotee who chased a group of teenagers away after they tried to steal monetary offerings from the temple was pelted with beer bottles, the Melbourne Herald Sun has reported.

 

In another incident about a month ago, teenagers put a padlock onto the main gate, locking out worshippers arriving for an important function. Temple authorities were forced to cut off the padlock to let in the devotees, who had been told by the teenagers the event was not going ahead.

 

Temple

president Perayirampillai Thanikasalam said the attacks started as "pranks" but had become increasingly violent over the past two years.

 

"They have thrown eggs at the shrine and at our temple manager," he said. The teenagers also smashed new lighting delivered to the temple for installation.

 

Thanikasalam said the boys, aged between 13 and 15, also demand money from devotees when they came to the temple, a central point for about 100,000 Hindus in Victoria state. They sometimes lie down in front of cars to force the devotees to part with cash, he said.

 

"We don't want to have any ill-feeling with the local community," he said but added that "people will be scared to come to the temple."

 

 

 

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