New Delhi/Toronto: A Hindu temple was defaced with anti-India and anti-Modi graffiti in Windsor in Canada's Ontario by suspected pro-Khalistani supporters. The local police said they are investigating the incident as a “hate-motivated incident”.

The Windsor Police released CCTV footage showing two suspects attired in black spray painting on the wall of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan temple.

This is the second such incident in Canada in four months.

The Windsor police, in a statement said: “On April 5, 2023, officers were dispatched to a Hindu temple in the 1700 block of Northway Avenue following a report of hate-motivated vandalism. Officers discovered anti-Hindu and anti-India graffiti sprayed in black on an exterior wall of the building."

"Through investigation, officers obtained a video that shows two suspects in the area just after 12 a.m. In the video, one suspect appears to commit the vandalism on the wall of the building while the other keeps watch.”

The police asked residents in the immediate vicinity of the temple to check their home surveillance or dashcam video footage for evidence.

On March 26, India had summoned the High Commissioner of Canada to convey its strong protest regarding the actions of pro-Khalistani separatists and extremist elements against the Indian High Commission and Consulates in Canada.

The Ministry of External Affairs in a statement said that it sought an explanation from the Canadian High Commissioner on how the Khalistani elements were allowed to breach the security of the Indian diplomatic mission and consulates despite the presence of police.

The Canadian government was asked to arrest and prosecute the persons who had been identified as involved in the incidents.

(With UNI inputs)