::NEWS::

Attacks on Hindus on the Increase

Faith hate crimes against Hindus have increased sharply since the July 7 bombings, Hindu Human Rights, has claimed.

Leaders of the London-based group said that many of the crimes took place because of ‘mistaken identity’ in the 7/7 backlash, whereas in other incidents the Hindu community has been specifically targeted. The attacks were described as symptoms of a deeper xenophobia that has gripped parts of Britain.

"As Asians, we all look the same and are equally vulnerable to any backlash," Rina Mehta, spokesperson for the group said. "However, it is of particular concern that there is no official recognition yet that Hindus and Sikhs are very vulnerable to faith and race-hate crimes."

To emphasise the scale of the problem, there have been 932 reported hate crimes against Indians, predominantly Hindus and Sikhs, compared with around 600 such instances against members of the predominantly Muslim Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities, according to Mehta

In one of the most disturbing incidents, worshippers at the Shree Ghanapathy Temple on Effra Road, Wimbledon, were abused in the street and one had his car damaged in attacks police are treating as racially motivated. The attacks occurred during the build-up to the local Hindu community’s annual parade, an event for which thousands gather annually.

The temple's chief co-ordinator, Ranjit Ratsingham, said: "We have had incidents of young boys being attacked by youths. A lot of people are very, very nervous." He claimed that the police have been supportive, and that the problem seems to be coming from the far-Right. In similar attacks, a Hindu youth was hospitalised and others injured after an attack in nearby Sutton.