Hindu temple sign in NC hit with over 60 shotgun blasts

A sign board for a planned Hindu temple in the US state of North Carolina has been fired at, leaving over 60 holes in the sign, prompting authorities to probe the incident that has shocked the Indian community.

The incident happened sometime between noon July 4 and about 1 pm last Saturday, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office said in a report.

The Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident in which someone fired a shotgun at a sign for a planned Hindu temple, leaving more than 60 holes in the sign, it said.

A deputy found empty shell casings near the sign that were consistent with bird shot being fired two to three times from a shotgun, Winston-Salem Journal quoted Chief Deputy Brad Stanley of the Sheriff’s Office as saying.

The sign suffered a damage of $200. Investigators have no leads or suspects, Stanley said.

The Om Hindu Organisation of North Carolina is planning to build a 3,600-square-foot temple in Clemmons and has bought 7.6 acres at the site.

“We as American people are fighting hate, standing up to promote tolerance, respect and inclusion,” Om Hindu said in a statement on Friday.

“We have no doubts that in long run we will be able to practice our religion and live peacefully in this region and work towards a pluralistic society.” The group also said it was moving forward with its plan for the temple.

The sheriff’s office does not have any information that organisation was targeted because of its faith, Stanley said.

“It appears just to be vandalism,” he said, adding that police have increased its patrols in the area.