Just one day after a brutal racial assault on an Indian student in Adelaide, a wave of hate-fueled vandalism has struck Melbourne’s eastern suburb of Boronia. The Shree Swaminarayan Temple and two nearby Asian-run eateries were defaced with graphic, racist graffiti, leaving a community shaken, heartbroken, and demanding answers.
Timeline of Events
The first reports of vandalism emerged early Tuesday morning. Victoria Police say graffiti had been noticed initially on a healing center located on Mountain Highway. Later, around 9:30 am, the Shree Swaminarayan Temple on Wadhurst Drive was discovered defaced with red spray-painted slurs, including the phrase “Go home brown c***.” By noon, two Asian-owned restaurants on Boronia Road had also reported similar vandalism.
Investigators believe these incidents are connected and are treating them as racially motivated hate crimes.
Official Statements
Community leaders are speaking out, and the messages are coming through loud and clear. Makrand Bhagwat, President of the Hindu Council of Australia’s Victoria chapter, expressed disbelief and pain. He told The Australia Today:
“Our temple is meant to be a sanctuary of peace, devotion and unity. To have it targeted in this way feels like an attack on our identity, our right to worship and freedom of religion.”
The temple, Bhagwat explained, is more than a religious site. It’s a hub for prayer, cultural festivals, and meals shared among the diverse Indian diaspora in Melbourne.
Though Premier Jacinta Allan has not made a direct public comment, her office reportedly contacted temple officials. In a message acquired by The Australia Today, Allan wrote:
“The Shree Swaminarayan Temple is so much more than a place of worship — it’s a place of warmth and community… What happened this week was hateful, racist and deeply disturbing.”
She added: “It wasn’t just vandalism — it was a deliberate act of hate, designed to intimidate, isolate, and spread fear.”
The Connection to the Adelaide Assault
The timing is difficult to ignore. One day earlier, in Adelaide, Charanpreet Singh, a 23-year-old Indian student, was violently assaulted in what police suspect was a racially motivated attack. Singh, who had only recently moved to Australia in hopes of building a future, was assaulted by a group of men near Kintore Avenue following a minor parking disagreement. The attackers allegedly shouted, “F*** off, Indian,” before beating him unconscious.
Now hospitalized with brain trauma, Singh has described the attack as unprovoked and horrifying. The community fears that these back-to-back events may signal a disturbing rise in racially charged violence against South Asians in Australia.
Community Response
The South Asian community is reeling from these incidents. On social media and in community groups, residents are sharing their outrage and sadness. Many say they’re not just angry—they’re scared.
- Messages of solidarity are flooding in from across Australia.
- Several advocacy groups are calling for an official inquiry into repeated racial incidents.
- Some community leaders are urging state government intervention and improved public safety measures around cultural landmarks.
Rina Shah, a local school teacher and Boronia resident, said in a message shared online, “This isn’t just vandalism. It’s intended to make us feel like we don’t belong here. But we do. We’ve built lives, homes, and communities in this country.”
Her words echo the sentiments of thousands who now feel their sense of safety ruptured.
Intensified Police Investigation
Victoria Police have confirmed that a formal investigation is underway, categorizing the temple and restaurant vandalism as possibly linked crimes. Authorities are scouring CCTV footage and have asked anyone with information to come forward.
A police spokesperson spoke briefly to the press: “At this point, we’re coordinating with local businesses and community leaders to gather all relevant information. Hate crimes have no place here—none at all.”
A Broader Pattern? Incident in Ireland Raises More Alarms
In Ireland, a seemingly unrelated yet frighteningly similar attack occurred just days ago. An Indian man in his 40s, newly employed at Amazon and freshly settled in Dublin, was beaten by a group of youths in Tallaght. He sustained multiple bleeding wounds and had to be hospitalized.
The Irish police have ruled out the allegations that led to the attack—accusations of inappropriate behavior around children—and are treating the incident as a hate crime.
This international angle is adding further emotional weight to the events, with many in the diaspora posting messages of solidarity underlining that hate isn’t bound by geography. The web of fear, sadly, might be widening.
What’s Next?
Clearly, a turning point has been reached. The damage to the Swaminarayan Temple’s walls is only the surface. The deeper wound is emotional, communal. Now, questions linger. Will there be stronger protections for places of worship? How will authorities pursue justice?
- A public statement from Premier Allan is expected within the week.
- Community safety forums are being scheduled in Boronia and surrounding areas.
- Police continue their investigation but have yet to name any suspects.
This is where things get less certain. Some believe the attacks could provoke a united front—a time for connection, education, and change. Others fear further escalation.
Either way, one thing’s for sure: a conversation has begun, even if it started in pain. For now, Melbourne’s Indian and Asian communities are watching, waiting, and hoping for something meaningful to come from the mess left behind in red spray paint.
If you’re in Melbourne and have any information, police are urging you to reach out via Crime Stoppers or your local authority.
We’ll be following this story as it develops.
