Washington, October 30, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has urged FBI Director Kash Patel to investigate an alleged plot to attack a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois, as a potential federal hate crime, recounting how his family was worshipping there when the incident unfolded.
In an opinion article published in the Chicago Tribune, Krishnamoorthi said his parents, aged 80 and 87, were singing Hindu prayers at the temple on October 11, the first day of Navaratri, when a 19-year-old suspect was allegedly waiting outside with an AR-style rifle and around 300 rounds of ammunition.
Citing prosecutors, he said the suspect attempted to shoot a passerby but the rifle jammed. The man later allegedly told a co-worker that he intended to return, prompting the co-worker to alert police. Officers from Palatine and Mount Prospect arrested him before he could go back.
Krishnamoorthi described the weapon malfunction as a miracle that potentially saved lives. He also cited court documents alleging that the suspect’s manifesto described Indian, Jewish and Black people as “subhumans” and identified the author as a white supremacist neo-Nazi.
The Congressman said the incident reflected wider concerns about hostility towards Indian Americans and other South Asian communities. He cited a September 2026 report by the Center for the Study of Organized Hate, which found that monthly anti-South Asian hate posts on X increased 240 per cent between January 2024 and June 2026.
He also referred to a Carnegie Endowment survey finding that 48 per cent of Indian American respondents had encountered racist posts targeting their community very or somewhat often since the beginning of 2025. One in four respondents said they had been called a slur.
Krishnamoorthi criticised public figures and political messaging that he said portrayed Indian Americans as foreigners or threats. Among the examples he cited were remarks by Texas political figures and activists, a podcast discussion titled “The Indian Question” and a Department of Homeland Security graphic depicting a man labelled “Mr Singh”.
He called on the FBI to examine the Aurora incident for possible federal hate-crime violations, assess online threats against Indian and other South Asian communities, and allocate more resources to tackling domestic violent extremism. He also urged Congress to address legal protections for technology companies.
Krishnamoorthi had led 105 lawmakers, including every Indian American member of Congress, in writing to Patel on October 20, seeking a written response by October 29. The letter asked whether the FBI was examining possible racial, ethnic and religious bias, whether online platforms or other individuals had facilitated the alleged plot, and what measures were being taken to protect vulnerable communities. No FBI response had been publicly disclosed by the deadline.
The suspect faces state charges of making a terrorist threat and unlawful weapons possession. No federal charges have been announced. His next court appearance was scheduled for October 30.
Krishnamoorthi concluded by urging solidarity across communities, saying opposition to antisemitism, anti-Black racism and hatred directed at Muslims, Latinos and other groups must accompany efforts to confront anti-Indian hostility.
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