Vandals Damage Sacred Statue at Cary's Sri Venkateswara Temple, Police Seek Public Help
Cary's Hindu community was shaken in January 2026 when vandals damaged the Dvarapalaka statue at the Sri Venkateswara of North Carolina temple during the early hours of January 18. Surveillance cameras recorded five individuals rushing from the scene in a small sedan, and Cary Police are actively seeking public assistance to identify those responsible.
🪔 Surveillance Footage Captures Suspects Fleeing Hindu Temple
ABC11 (WTVD), the local ABC affiliate serving the Raleigh-Durham area, reported on January 23, 2026 that Cary police were investigating a vandalism incident at the Sri Venkateswara of North Carolina, a prominent Hindu temple in the city. The Cary Police Department said surveillance cameras at the temple captured at least five individuals during the early morning hours of Sunday, January 18, around 3:00 a.m. The footage showed the group running toward a parked vehicle described as a small sedan, then speeding away from the temple grounds. Shortly after the suspects departed, temple staff discovered that the Dvarapalaka statue positioned at the front of the temple had been damaged. Cary police confirmed that detectives were actively working to identify all individuals involved and to determine the full circumstances surrounding the act of vandalism. ABC11's report included still images from the surveillance footage showing the damaged statue and the vehicle used by the suspects. The Cary Police Department urged anyone with relevant information to contact Cary Crimestoppers at (919) 460-4636, and stressed that callers are not required to reveal their identity. The station emphasized that the investigation was ongoing and that detectives were examining the footage closely in hopes of making identifications. [2]
🤝 Community's Sense of Security Shaken as Temple Guardian Statue Is Damaged
The Grand Pinnacle Tribune published its account of the Sri Venkateswara temple vandalism on January 23, 2026, drawing on reports from WTVD and WRAL and placing particular emphasis on the community impact of the incident. The Tribune described how surveillance footage showed at least five individuals approaching the Sri Venkateswara of North Carolina temple around 3:00 a.m. on January 18, before running to a small sedan and hastily departing the premises. The urgency of the suspects' retreat, the Tribune noted, suggested a level of premeditation on the part of those involved. Shortly after the suspects fled, temple staff and community members discovered that the Dvarapalaka statue at the temple's entrance had been damaged. The Tribune described the Dvarapalaka as a symbolic guardian figure positioned at the threshold of the temple, and framed its destruction as both a physical blow to a sacred space and a symbolic affront to the local Hindu community's sense of security and belonging in Cary. Cary Police detectives confirmed they are working diligently to identify those responsible and determine the circumstances behind the damage, stressing the value of community cooperation. The public was urged to submit anonymous tips through Cary Crimestoppers at (919) 460-4636 or through the online reporting platform at www.p3tips.com/1242. [4]
🗳️ Cary Police Confirm Investigation Is Ongoing, Seek Anonymous Tips
WRAL, the Raleigh-based television news outlet, published its account on January 22-23, 2026, reporting that Cary police officers were investigating vandalism at the Sri Venkateswara of North Carolina that authorities said had taken place several days before the public report was issued. According to the Cary Police Department as reported by WRAL, surveillance cameras at the temple captured images of five people leaving the premises around 3 a.m. on Sunday, January 18, 2026. The group departed in a small sedan and was seen speeding away from the temple grounds shortly before the damaged Dvarapalaka statue was discovered at the front of the temple. WRAL reported that police said their investigation was ongoing at the time of publication, with officers working to identify those involved and to establish the circumstances that led to the vandalism. The outlet noted that police had not released details about a suspected motive as of the time of reporting. Members of the public who have information are asked to contact Cary Crimestoppers at 919-460-4636, or to submit tips anonymously through the online portal at www.p3tips.com/1242. WRAL credited the Cary Police Department as the primary source for all details in the report and noted that the investigation remained active. [5]
🪔 Plans for World's Tallest Murugan Statue Draw Attention to North Carolina's Hindu Community
Indian Eagle's TravelBeats blog, a publication focused on diaspora news and travel for Indians in the United States, reported in late 2025 on plans to build the world's tallest Lord Murugan statue in the United States, with the site located in North Carolina. According to Indian Eagle's coverage, the proposed statue would stand 155 feet tall—taller than the Statue of Liberty—making it a landmark structure on a national scale. The article specifically highlighted the significance of the project for Indians in North Carolina, reflecting the state's growing South Asian community. The publication described it as the world's tallest Lord Murugan statue and characterized the project as a major development for North Carolina's Indian diaspora. The proposed 155-foot monument and accompanying temple would represent one of the most ambitious Hindu religious infrastructure projects undertaken in the United States. Indian Eagle, whose TravelBeats platform regularly covers destinations and cultural developments relevant to the Indian diaspora, treated the North Carolina statue project as a milestone development for Hindu communities planning religious travel within the country. The project underscores the scale of Hindu community investment in the Carolinas, a region that includes Cary, one of the largest concentrations of Indian Americans in the American South. [6]
Sources: [2] ABC11 News · [4] Evrim Ağacı · [5] WRAL · [6] IndianEagle