Indian Consulate in New York strongly condemns vandalisation of Gandhi statue outside Hindu temple
New York, Aug 19: The Consulate General of India in New York on Friday strongly condemned the vandalisation of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi outside a Hindu temple here and has taken up the matter with US authorities to ensure those responsible for the despicable action are held accountable.
In a possible hate crime, unidentified persons destroyed a handcrafted statue of Mahatma Gandhi with a sledgehammer at the Hindu temple in Queens after vandalising it earlier this month.
The Consulate said in a statement that it strongly condemns the vandalisation of the Mahatma Gandhi statue outside a temple in Queens, New York. We have taken up the matter with US authorities seeking thorough investigation so that those responsible for such despicable action are held accountable.
Surveillance video showed a person thrashing a statue of Gandhi with a sledgehammer on Tuesday, before smashing the head off and toppling it over, according to cbsnews.com.
Minutes later, a group of six stomp on it and take turns hammering the statue before taking off.
The New York Police Department is investigating both incidents as possible hate crimes, media reports said.
The Gandhi statue at Tulsi Mandir was vandalized a second time, this time completely destroyed.
— Jenifer Rajkumar (@JeniferRajkumar) August 18, 2022
With the outpouring of support I’ve received from ppl all around Queens, the country & world, I’m more optimistic than ever that we will succeed in defeating these forces of hate.š pic.twitter.com/TolUqi0wCR
NYC Gandhi statue obliterated by vandals, second attack in two weeks https://t.co/9dzaYFW9hx pic.twitter.com/E4U00sxfxR
— New York Post (@nypost) August 19, 2022
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Viral clip shows reckless driving, stunts in Delhi; five arrested
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi Police has arrested five people after registering an FIR in connection with a viral video that showed a group of men performing dangerous stunts in speeding cars on Delhi roads, an official said on Sunday.
The police also recovered four vehicles allegedly involved in the incident, he said.
The video, which surfaced on social media platform X, showed several cars moving at high speed, swerving and zigzagging through traffic on Ring Road, with some occupants seen standing out of sunroofs and windows while shouting as the vehicles sped past other motorists.
The footage triggered sharp reactions online, with users demanding immediate police action and flagging the serious threat to public safety.
According to police, the video came to notice on December 27 and appeared to have been recorded around 10.44 pm on December 26, when the cars were travelling from the ITO stretch towards Sarai Kale Khan and Noida.
"Considering the seriousness of the matter and concerns related to public safety, cognisance was taken and an FIR was registered under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Motor Vehicles Act," the police in a statement said.
During the course of investigation, five accused people were apprehended on Sunday and four offending vehicles were recovered, he added.
The accused have been identified as Almas Arshad (20), Sarfaraj (26), Mohd Imran Qureshi (23), Mohd Shabbir (23), Saad Abdullah (22), all are residents of Delhi.
The clip had been shared by a social media user who urged authorities to take strict action, saying such "extremely dangerous" driving put the lives of other commuters at serious risk and could lead to fatal accidents.
The video drew strong reactions from several users, some of whom described reckless driving and stunt behaviour as a regular occurrence on Delhi roads, while others pointed to an apparent lack of fear of law enforcement among violators.
Earlier, responding to the post, Delhi Traffic Police acknowledged the complaint and advised the user to formally report the incident for further action. In a subsequent message, the traffic police also said that in such cases, people could contact the nearest police station or dial the emergency number 112 for immediate assistance.
A senior officer said the swift action reflected the commitment of Delhi Police to road safety. "Citizens are requested to follow traffic rules and road safety guidelines to ensure safe movement on roads. Any violation will invite strict legal action," he said.
Police said further investigation is underway to ascertain if any additional people were involved.
šDelhi: Reckless driving on Ring Road from ITO towards Sarai Kale Khan.
— Deadly Kalesh (@Deadlykalesh) December 27, 2025
Seems like Delhi’s pollution is hitting brains harder than lungs.
Extremely dangerous driving, risking lives on a public road.
š¹ 10:44 PM | 26 Dec
Strict action needed.
pic.twitter.com/sr2zjjUppJ
