In a disturbing chain of events reflecting the rise in racially motivated hate crimes, Melbourne’s eastern suburb of Boronia was rocked this week by a series of targeted vandalism attacks. The Shree Swaminarayan Temple, a sacred and community-centric site, was defaced with a vile racial slur scrawled in red paint — “Go home brown c***”. The same hateful graffiti appeared on two Asian-owned restaurants nearby on Boronia Road.
The acts of vandalism occurred just a day after a brutal racial assault on 23-year-old Indian student Charanpreet Singh in Adelaide, intensifying concerns among Indian-Australians about rising xenophobia.
Makrand Bhagwat, President of the Hindu Council of Australia (Victoria chapter), condemned the attack, saying, “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 our freedom of religion.”
The Shree Swaminarayan Temple isn’t merely a religious site — it serves as a cultural anchor for Melbourne’s Indian diaspora, hosting daily prayers, free community meals, and vibrant cultural festivals.
Although Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan hasn’t issued a public statement, her office privately contacted temple authorities. In a message reported by The Australian Today, Allan expressed her deep concern: “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.
It wasn’t just vandalism — it was a deliberate act of hate, designed to intimidate, isolate, and spread fear.”
Victoria Police confirmed that the graffiti was first spotted on a healing centre on Mountain Highway, followed by reports from the temple and two eateries on Boronia Road. Authorities believe the incidents are connected and are actively investigating.
Meanwhile, in Adelaide, Charanpreet Singh was viciously attacked by a group of men near Kintore Avenue following a parking dispute. Witnesses say the assailants shouted, “F*** off, Indian,” before knocking Singh unconscious. He remains hospitalised with brain trauma. Singh has called the attack entirely unprovoked and rooted in racism.
Across the globe in Ireland, another racially charged attack unfolded. On July 19 in Tallaght, Dublin, a newly arrived Indian Amazon employee in his 40s was assaulted by a gang of young men after being falsely accused of inappropriate behaviour. He sustained multiple injuries and was hospitalised. Irish police have dismissed the false accusations and are treating the incident as a hate crime.
These events — spanning continents — reflect a troubling resurgence of racial hostility. What connects these incidents is not geography but a shared, rising intolerance against immigrants and people of colour. Peaceful places of worship, hardworking migrants, and innocent students are being subjected to violence, vilification, and fear simply because of their race or ethnicity.
It is a grim reminder that racism is not a relic of the past — it is evolving, emboldened, and manifesting in new, cruel forms.
#StopRacism #HateCrimeAwareness #UnityInDiversity #TempleAttack #CharanpreetSingh #BoroniaVandalism #IndianDiaspora #AntiRacism #NoPlaceForHate #JusticeForAll #StandAgainstHate #PeaceNotPrejudice