'It was horror and disbelief.' Graffiti written on Hindu temple in Melville as police conduct hate crime investigation
News 12's Thema Ponton is in Melville where Suffolk police say threatening and derogatory anti-Hindu messages were spray painted on a sign and driveway.
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Members of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville tells News 12 they are shocked, horrified and in disbelief after threatening and derogatory anti-Hindu messages were spray-painted on a sign and driveway.
Suffolk police tell News 12 they will have now extra patrols at the Hindu temple on Deshon Drive and the incident is being investigated as a hate crime.
Police believe the hateful words were left sometime between 7 p.m. on Sunday and 6:30 a.m. on Monday.
They're asking anyone with information to call Suffolk County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS or the Hate Crimes Unit at 631-852-HATE.
News 12 spoke with Hardik Patel, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir member, who says he was the first to see the hateful graffiti outside the temple.
"I was horrified...the negative and hateful message it exudes...I was in disbelief and in utter shock," said Patel.
