NEW YORK(TIP): Indian diplomats, US lawmakers  and  Community leaders in one voice condemned the brutal attack on a Hindu priest in New York City’s Borough of Queens in open daylight.

According to available reports, around 11 a.m. Thursday, July 18, near the Shiv Shakti Peeth in Glen Oaks in Queens, while Swami Harish Chander Puri was walking down the street in his religious attire, a man came up from behind and started hitting him, repeatedly.

The priest suffered bruises and abrasions all over his body, including his face during the attack. 52-year-old Sergio Gouveia, who reportedly screamed “this is my neighborhood” during the assault,was arrested by police in connection with the attack. He’s being charged with assault, harassment and criminal possession of a weapon.

“Swami Ji Harish Chander Puri spent this weekend recovering from a brutal, despicable act of hate. Our city is praying for him. But he says he’s praying for his attacker”, tweeted NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“Glad that Hindu priest Swami Ji Harish Chander Puri is now recovering at home & that @NYPDnewshas arrested the man who allegedly attacked him. We cannot & will not stand for this violence in our city. We all stand w our Hindu neighbors”, said U.S. Rep. Carolyn B Maloney.

“I am disgusted over the violent attack on a Hindu priest in our borough. This type of brutal act is un-American and the person who committed this heinous crime is a coward. People from across the globe call Queens home and we are proud to embrace this rich diversity that exists in our communities and neighborhoods. I commend the NYPD for making a swift arrest in this case and I’m confident that justice will be served. I stand with the Hindu community and wish the victim a full recovery”, said U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens).

“I will continue to stand in solidarity with the Hindu community in my district and across America. May god grant Swami Ji strength, so he may fully recover,” Tom Suozzi, representing New York’s 3rd Congressional District including parts of Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties, said on Twitter.

Meanwhile India’s Consul General in New York Ambassador Sandeep Chakravorty met Swami Harish Chander Puri on July 21.

“Met with Swamiji of Shiv Shakti Peeth who was attacked by a miscreant. He is at home, recovering well and resumed his spiritual duties. Thanks to the Police for quick arrest of the assailant. Many thanks to @RepGraceMeng & @RepTomSuozzi & the Indian Community for their support,” Ambassador Chakravorty tweeted.

The Hindu American Foundation urged police to investigate the attack as a hate crime. “Such an attack — occurring as it did in the borough of Queens, perhaps the most ethnically diverse place in the entire world — is particularly senseless and tragic. We’re pleased that Swamiji is recovering from his injuries. We’re also pleased that Representatives Tom Suozzi, Grace Meng, and Carolyn Maloney have offered their support to the local Hindu community. In addition, we praise the office of Mayor Bill de Blasio for its quick response, sending community liaison officer Rohan Narine to the mandir. HAF urges police to investigate the attack as a hate crime, and if it is determined that bias was indeed the motivation for the appropriate charges added to those of assault, harassment, and weapons possession that Gouveia already faces”, HAF Director of Communications Mat McDermott, based in New York, said in a statement.

Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams condemning  the  assault on the Hindu Priest in Glen Oaks, NY, said in a statement sent to The Indian Panorama :-

“This vicious, reprehensible assault was evil, plain and simple. If the reports indicating that the suspect viciously beat a Hindu priest for walking in his neighborhood in Glen Oaks, Queens, that is the textbook definition of a hate crime, and the perpetrator should be charged as such. We cherish our Hindu community, and while all violence must be condemned, it is particularly galling to see a man of faith beaten within an inch of his life for looking different.

“I spoke with Swami Ji Harish Chander Puri on Sunday over the phone and reiterated that we will always stand united against hate and will not tolerate attacks on our fellow New Yorkers. I was struck by his resiliency in the face of a horrific attack, and his willingness to forgive his assailant after all he had been through was truly awe-inspiring. We should all be inspired by his example and determination to move forward, and we should recommit ourselves to stopping the resurgence of hate in our city and beyond”.