India on Saturday called for a quick probe by the US into Friday’s defacing of the SMVS Swaminarayan Temple in Newark, California, allegedly by Khalistan supporters.
The issue was flagged to US authorities by India’s consulate in San Francisco.
Asked about the development, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar told reporters later in the day that India was concerned about these extremist activities overseas. He said such separatist forces should not be allowed space overseas.
India has repeatedly raised the issue with the US, Canada, the UK and Australia – all four countries where Khalistani separatism has some resonance.
According to The Mercury Times – a San Francisco Bay Area publication – the Newark police department is investigating the matter as a potential hate crime.
The newspaper quoted the police as saying: "Any acts or threats of violence, property damage, harassment, intimidation, or other crimes motivated by hate or bias are considered very serious and given very high priority.
"Officers are investigating, collecting evidence, and reviewing surveillance footage from nearby businesses in order to establish the chain of events and bring those responsible to justice."
