New York, October 15, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Hindu and Indian-American organisations have condemned an alleged mass-shooting plot targeting a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois, during Navaratri celebrations, urging places of worship to strengthen security and warning that anti-Hindu hatred can translate into real-world violence.
The appeals followed the arrest of a 19-year-old suspect, Alexandros Paporakis, who allegedly planned an attack on the temple on Saturday but fled after his rifle jammed, according to authorities. A co-worker alerted the police after the suspect reportedly disclosed his intentions.
The Hindu Mandir Empowerment Council (HMEC) urged temples and devotees to remain alert and promptly report suspicious activity, particularly during religious observances.
“As we come together in prayer, celebration, and service, let us stand united against hate and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that every devotee can worship freely, peacefully, and without fear in our sacred spaces,” the organisation said.
The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) said the incident highlighted the danger of anti-India and anti-Hindu hostility extending beyond online rhetoric and political discourse to threats against communities and places of worship.
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) called on elected representatives and law enforcement agencies to take threats against Hindu institutions seriously, strengthen protections and condemn Hinduphobia. It also urged temples and community organisations to review their security arrangements and report suspicious activity.
According to authorities, Paporakis told his co-worker at a fast-food restaurant that he had gone to the Aurora temple to carry out a mass shooting but abandoned the attempt when his rifle malfunctioned. Police arrested him at his home in Palatine, Illinois, and seized a rifle, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and a tactical vest bearing white supremacist symbols.
Court documents reportedly indicate that the suspect had been planning the attack for two years and had written a manifesto expressing hatred towards Indians and Hindus. Authorities said he had also expressed a desire to die after killing a large number of people.
Paporakis appeared in court on Wednesday and was remanded to custody until October 30, when he is due to appear again.
The alleged plot has heightened concerns among Hindu organisations following an October 3 incident at Shree Swaminarayan Vadtal Dham in Richmond Heights, Ohio, where bricks were thrown at the temple while priests and devotees were inside for a prayer service.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s figures cited in the report show that reported anti-Hindu hate crimes increased to 32 last year from 25 in 2024.
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