Gurdwara In Melbourne, Australia Burnt Down

[GillAUS]

Melbourne Sikh temple arson 'an attack on religion'

* Lauren Wilson

* From: The Australian

* January 14, 2010 12:00AM

A fire was deliberately lit inside the Nanaksar Thath Isher Darbar Sikh Temple, which is under construction, in Lynbrook overnight. Temple elder Satnam Singh and Amarpreet Singh examine the damage. Picture: Stuart McEvoy Source: The Australian

AN elder at a Melbourne Sikh temple suspected to have been torched by arsonists has described the early-morning vandalism as an "attack on religion", placing further strain on diplomatic relations already damaged by a spate of serious assaults on Indian students.

The partially built Nanaksar Thath Isher Darbar temple in Melbourne's outer southeastern suburbs, home to a congregation of Sikhs, many of whom come from the Punjab in northern India, is believed to have been set on fire with the use of molotov cocktails early yesterday.

Distraught temple elder Satnam Singh said the wilful destruction of a "God house" was an attack on Indians.

Detective Senior Constable Paul Stow, in charge of the investigation, said the fire was being treated as suspicious, but detectives were yet to establish whether race or religion had motivated the arsonists.

"At this stage there is nothing to suggest it is (race-related) other than the fact that it happened to a temple," Detective Constable Stow told The Australian yesterday.

The Sikh temple, known as a gurdwara, is in the middle of a large empty paddock in front of a sprawling housing estate at Lynbrook, on Melbourne's suburban fringe. The fire could put further pressure on bilateral relations between India and Australia, which have come under renewed strain since the stabbing of a 21-year-old Punjab-born accounting graduate, Nitin Garg, in a park in Melbourne's west earlier this month.

Among the members of the Indian community who visited the temple yesterday to survey the damage was the consul-general of India in Melbourne, Anil Kumar Gupta, who walked around the site taking notes and talking with elders. One worshipper, who asked not to be named, said he was informed by police that three molotov cocktails and a jerry can containing petrol were found inside the temple. Constable Stow confirmed that "a number of items were located to suggest accelerant was used".

Despite initial police reports indicating that a group of teens had lit "a couple of small fires" in piles of rubbish in the temple, Constable Stow said police believed the arson to be a "deliberately lit fire" rather than a bonfire that had burned out of control.

A police spokeswoman last night said investigators were keeping an open mind about the investigation.

"We can't discount anything," she said.

Victorian police have been criticised and caricatured in India for being too quick to rule out racism as a motive for attacks on Indian students.

Walking through the blackened interior yesterday, Mr Singh said the fire was "very, very personal".

"This is an attack on religion, this is very bad," he said. "This should not have been done, this is a God house, everybody who comes here prays to God."

When asked whether he believed the attack to be race-related, Mr Singh said: "Yes, attack on Indians."

The deputy high commissioner of India, V.K. Sharma, yesterday said: "We have no comment to make."

It is believed two people were seen leaving the temple near midnight.

Source: http://www.theaustra...f-1225819009767

[dalsingh101]

Aussie nazi scum. What are they playing at? Loads of attacks lately?

[GillAUS]

Aussie nazi scum. What are they playing at? Loads of attacks lately?

Mate, I don't know what's been going on lately, but there does seem to be a problem in Melbourne concerning attacks against Indians (that too mainly Punjabis/Sikhs).

There were prior problems in Sydney, however that was with local Lebanese youths. Over there the apnay took to the streets for a few nights due to the lack of police assistance. I'm not sure if there has been any further problems since then.

However, in Melbourne, from what I have read and heard, it seems that the attacks have been carried out by white Australian bogans (our equivalent of chavs).

It just seems ludicrous that the Victorian police continue to deny that there is a problem with racism against Indians.

This led to cartoons being published in the Indian media depicting the Victorian police as KKK members. This has led to a massive backlash here, and I have personally seen the true colours of the goray as they are up in arms about it and have made all sorts of comments trying to downplay that their police force (and society) is racist and that the Indians are making a fuss over nothing.

If you read the article at http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/sikhs-call-for-security-after-melbourne-temple-attack/story-e6frg6nf-1225819478091 , it isn't just the one Gurughar that has been attacked in Melbourne.

Moreover, the one that was burnt down was located in a semi-remote area away from residential and commercial dwellings. This alone suggests a prior anti-Indian/Punjabi/Sikh motive for such an action.

But nevertheless the police continue to deny any racist problem.

If it does continue, I feel that the local apnay should not have any qualms with taking the law into their own hands and protecting our places of worship on our own and beating the hell out of any bogan that comes within 500m of a Gurdwara! Lets see what the police say/do then.

Like NWA said, 'F*ck tha police!'

[SURYADEV]

Thank God that it was only an empty construction site.

No SGGS, no people hurt.

[shaheediyan]

In my personal experience, having worked with many antipodean, I have found the australians to generally be the most racist (not a blanket remark, just personal observation) which is also backed up by the fact that Aussies have had hugely racist laws in place until recent times and continue to look down on the natives. 2nd worst I found the Afrikaans speaking South Africans. The English South Africans and New Zealanders seem the nicest of the bunch, esp the latter, down to the oint where many are seen as uncool if they cannot prove they have some Maori blood a few generations back lol.

But Aus seriously still has a bad racism problem which makes the UK seem like disneyland. I remember until recent times, it was the South East Asian (Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai communities etc) that were going through bad times...

Generally the racism is usually concentrated in the rural areas (as in US, CA and SA), but in Aus for some reason it is still very strong in the Cities etc..

Singhs need to make themselves strong and formidable, thats the only real way to change things.