NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Queens, NY, May 1, 2025: The New York Police Department is investigating an incident in Queens Village as a possible hate crime after a man was caught on surveillance video trespassing onto a Hindu family’s property and removing religious flags from their front porch.
The incident occurred on the afternoon of April 20, but gained public attention only after the NYPD released surveillance images of the suspect on April 30 and appealed to the public for help in identifying him.
According to police reports, the man entered the property just before 3 p.m. and removed four Hindu religious flags. He then discarded them in a nearby trash can. No physical harm was reported, but the family said the act left them feeling shaken and targeted.
Authorities described the suspect as a light-complexioned, bald man. At the time of the incident, he was wearing sunglasses, a dark jacket, a purple tie, blue pants, and a multicolored shirt beneath a light-colored coat. He was also carrying a brown briefcase.
The NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force is leading the investigation, citing the religious nature of the flags as a potential motive for bias. Officials said they are taking the matter seriously and urged anyone with information to come forward.
This incident comes amid broader concerns about bias-related crimes in New York City and follows previous cases involving vandalism of Hindu symbols in the Queens area. In 2015, a man set fire to 40 Hindu prayer flags in a similar neighborhood, prompting public outrage and calls for community unity.
Cover photo courtesy: Crime Stoppers
