Alarm has spread among the Hindu community members in Canada after a series of incidents of alleged vandalism and robbery at temples.
Almost half a dozen Hindu temples have been looted in a span of ten days, as per reports. All of these places of worship are located in the Greater Toronto Area.
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Ornaments adorning the deities, and cash in donation boxes have reportedly been stolen. The office rooms were also allegedly ransacked.
The series of robberies reportedly began on January 15 with a failed attempt at the Shri Hanuman Mandir in Brampton. Ten days later, the Maa Chintpurni temple in the same town was burgled. Subsequently, Gauri Shankar Mandir, and Jagannath temple in Brampton, the Hindu Heritage Centre in Mississauga, and the Hamilton Samaj Temple were reportedly targeted.
Temple priests were reportedly told by the police that it is the same group which has been targeting the various religious establishments. CCTV footage shows two persons dressed in winter gear and carrying backpacks committing the robberies, as per a Hindustan Times report.
Along with volunteers keeping watch, police are said to be increasing patrols near temples to prevent further incidents.