Hindus concerned at robbery by gunman in Sacramento Hindu temple kitchen

From our correspondent

Hindus are highly concerned after reports of robbery and violent encounter in Sacramento (California) Hindu temple kitchen with a masked gunman, where an 86-year old woman was among the victims.

Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Chicago today, said that it was shocking for the hard-working, harmonious and peaceful US Hindu community numbering about three million; who had made lot of contributions to the nation and society; to confront such incident in a house of worship and a place of prayer.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, urged administration for swift action; and to Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and Sacramento County Board of Supervisors Chair Roberta MacGlashan to contact the area Hindu community to reassure them.

A cow’s severed complete head with a bullet to it was reportedly left at a Hindu cow sanctuary in Jackson Township in Monroe County of eastern Pennsylvania in March last.

According to reports in 2015; 40 Hindu religious flags were burned outside a home in Queens (a New York City borough) on Thanksgiving Day; a Hindu temple was vandalized in Kitchener (Ontario) on November 15; sign of planned “Winston Salem Hindu Temple” in Clemmons (North Carolina) was hit with over 60 shotgun blasts in July; a Hindu temple was vandalized in Dallas (Texas) in April; two Hindu temples in Kent and Bothell (both in Seattle metropolitan area of Washington) were vandalized in February; a Hindu grandfather was roughed-up by police in Madison (Alabama) in February, resulting in partial paralysis. In 2014, there was anti-Hindu vandalism in Loudoun County (Virginia).

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.