Hindu Temple in Cary, North Carolina Vandalized; Police Seek Five Suspects Caught on Surveillance Camera

A Dvarapalaka statue outside the Sri Venkateswara of North Carolina, a prominent Hindu temple in Cary, was vandalized in January 2026, and Cary police are actively seeking five suspects captured on surveillance video. The incident has troubled Cary Indian American community and prompted an ongoing law enforcement effort to identify and locate those responsible.

🪔 Sacred Guardian Statue Vandalized at Cary Hindu Temple

The Cary Police Department opened an investigation into a case of vandalism at the Sri Venkateswara of North Carolina, a Hindu temple that serves as a significant place of worship for the region Indian American community. The object targeted was a Dvarapalaka statue, a sacred guardian figure that in Hindu tradition stands at the entrance of a temple to protect the sanctified space within. Surveillance video from the temple captured five individuals who were seen running away from the scene before departing rapidly from the premises. Cary police identified these five people as persons of interest and called on the public to provide any information that could aid the investigation. The Sri Venkateswara temple in Cary holds central importance for Hindus in the area, and the vandalism of a Dvarapalaka figure was regarded by community members as an attack on a deeply symbolic and spiritually significant fixture. A Dvarapalaka serves as a protector of sacred space, and its desecration at a place of worship is felt particularly acutely by devotees who consider the temple a refuge of faith and community. The Cary Police Department treated the incident as an active criminal investigation and continued working to identify those seen in the surveillance footage. Community members expressed concern about the safety of their place of worship and sought accountability for those who targeted the temple. [1]

🤝 Suspects Fled in Sedan at 3 a.m. After Temple Attack

Surveillance cameras positioned at the Sri Venkateswara of North Carolina in Cary recorded the incident in the early morning hours, capturing clear images of five individuals at approximately three in the morning on a Sunday. The footage showed the group departing the temple grounds in a small sedan and accelerating away from the scene, providing investigators with visual evidence of the suspects and their vehicle. Cary Police Department investigators relied on the surveillance footage as the primary evidence in their active search for the five individuals responsible for the damage to the temple. The case was first reported on January 22, 2026, with updated information released the following day as the investigation progressed. The pre-dawn timing and the use of a waiting vehicle suggested a deliberate approach by those involved. Temple authorities and police confirmed that the statue positioned outside the temple had been damaged during the incident. Law enforcement asked anyone holding information about the five individuals seen on the temple cameras to come forward and assist in identifying the group. The search remained ongoing as of the time of reporting, with investigators working to trace the small sedan through available footage and tips from members of the public. The incident prompted renewed attention to security arrangements at religious institutions and places of community gathering in the Cary area. [4]

Sources: [1] ABC11 News · [4] WRAL