Stories
US India Caucus Urges FBI and DOJ to Probe Illinois Hindu Temple Plot as Hate Crime
- •The US Congressional Caucus on India has demanded that the FBI and Department of Justice investigate an alleged mass shooting plot at an Illinois Hindu temple as a federal hate crime.
- •House India Caucus co-chairs Rich McCormick and Ro Khanna sent a letter to Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel calling for a thorough probe into potential co-conspirators.
- •Lawmakers urged federal agencies to share timely threat information and provide protective resources to Hindu temples, Sikh gurdwaras, and other South Asian houses of worship.
- •Recent data highlights a concerning rise in hostility, including a 240 percent increase in anti-South Asian hate posts on X and a surge in reported hate crimes targeting Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist communities in 2025.
Key Questions Answered
The US Congressional Caucus on India demanded that the FBI and Department of Justice investigate the attempted mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois, as a federal hate crime. Lawmakers urged authorities to determine whether anyone encouraged or coordinated with the 19-year-old attacker and to address growing threats against Hindu and Indian Americans.
The planned mass shooting at the Hindu temple failed because the AR-15-style rifle carried by the 19-year-old suspect, Alexandros Paporakis, jammed and could not fire when he attempted to shoot. Following the malfunction, the suspect fled and the plot was later uncovered after he contacted a coworker who alerted the police.
Lawmakers asked the FBI and Department of Justice to share timely threat information with state, local law enforcement, and Hindu and Sikh houses of worship, while offering them protective resources. They also requested a formal briefing on the rising threats facing Hindu and Indian Americans and the agency responses.
