Sikhs call for security after Melbourne temple attack

THE president of Melbourne's largest Sikh temple has requested additional night-time security from Victoria Police in the wake of an arson attack on another Sikh temple earlier this week.

The request, made to Victoria Police in a letter yesterday, asks for "increased vigilance" from local authorities around the high-profile Sikh temple in the eastern Melbourne suburb of Blackburn, which has previously been visited by the Premier and the state Opposition Leader.

The letter, written by the secretary of the Sri Guru Nanak Satsang Sabha temple at the behest of its president, Dashran Singh, says: "As you are no doubt aware, there have been an increased number of violent incidents involving (the) Indian community in Melbourne.

"This is a matter of concern for all Australians.

"We will appreciate if you can assist by having increased vigilance in the area, especially during night-time, to build confidence amongst the community," says the letter, seen by The Australian yesterday.

Early on Wednesday a Sikh temple in Lynbrook, on Melbourne's southeastern fringe, was set on fire. Mr Singh yesterday said another Sikh temple in Cragieburn in Melbourne's north was also vandalised last week with eggs and stones.

"We take the trouble to collect money to build our buildings for worship. This is very worrying," he said.

Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu, who visited the Blackburn temple, or gurdwara, before travelling to India last year, said he was "greatly concerned" about the recent attacks on Indians and their places of worship.

"In light of recent events, the police need to work very closely with the Indian community right across Victoria to make sure there is no repeat of any violence or vandalism," he said.

Temple worshipper Vikramjit Kaur, who attended the Blackburn gurdwara yesterday with her four-year-old daughter Supreet and her mother, Surinder Kaur, said "there should be more security - when you hear about these (cases of vandalism), you are worried."

Mr Singh said to date he had received "great support" from local authorities, but said he would be comforted by more security.

A spokeswoman for Victoria Police yesterday said authorities were "taking every incident very seriously."

But she said, "no matter how many police we have, we simply can't be present for every crime that takes place".

with thanks : source : http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/sikhs-call-for-security-after-melbourne-temple-attack/story-e6frg6nf-1225819478091

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