(Image source from: Scroll.in)

The 52-year-old U.S. man attacked a Hindu priest in New York when he was walking down the street in his religious garb near a temple in Floral Park, according to a U.S. media report.

Swami Harish Chander Puri said that on Thursday at around 11 a.m. (local time), while he walking down the street near the Shiv Shakti Peeth in Glen Oaks in his religious garb, a man came up from behind and started hitting him, again and again, PIX 11 news channel reported.

Puri said he was beaten so severely that he had to be rushed to the hospital. The priest sustained bruises and abrasions all over his body, including his face after the attack on July 18, the channel reported.

“I’m in a little pain,” the priest was quoted as saying by the channel.

Police arrested the 52-year-old Sergio Gouveia in link with the attack. He’s being charged with harassment, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon. The police are looking into whether the attack should be investigated as a hate crime, the channel said.

Some of the people who regularly attend the temple said they believe the priest was targeted. The attacker screamed things like, “this is my neighborhood,” during the incident, they said.

                        (Image source from: India Today)

Sadhana - a coalition of progressive Hindus, through a Facebook post, condemned the crime.

“Bigotry and xenophobia does not distinguish between Hindus and Muslims or black and brown skin. When the United States President targets immigrants and refugees and encourages chants of “send her back” at rallies, this results in real harm inflicted on our communities.”

“Thankfully, Swami Puri Ji is recovering and is praying for the man who attacked him. We stand with him and the Shiv Shakti Peeth community, and invite all of our interfaith allies in the Queens/NYC area to do so as well,” it said. “May justice be served, and may love to prevail over this hate we are seeing here and all over the country. We all belong here!,” the post added.

By Sowmya Sangam