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| Arson Fires Put Houston Hindus On Edge | |
| 2003-12-03 | |
| This isn’t getting any press outside of Texas. And everyone is avoiding the "T" word. EFL: Almost a dozen fires have destroyed homes of Hindus and others, with a two-county task force investigating the suspected arson spree and members of the religious community nervous about future attacks. Federal, county and city investigators are reviewing evidence in the blazes that have occurred over the past six months. The fact that victims have included Hindus suggests that the community is being targeted, said Natubhai Patel, a leading member of a Hindu temple. "We don’t know really who would be behind it," he told the Houston Chronicle in Monday’s editions. "It’s anybody’s guess." Oh, I think we all know. You just don’t want to say it. Patel and other members of the Hindu community believe the victims of all 11 fires under investigation by the task force were Hindus. Now who do we know that has a beef with Hindus? "People are concerned and we would like to have the responsible leaders look into this," Patel, a member of the Shree Swaminarayan Temple, said on Sunday. Sudhan Patel, no relation to Natubhai, was the latest victim. His house burned to the ground Friday. One of Patel’s neighbors, who spoke on condition of anonymity because she feared retaliation by the arsonist, said her back yard was doused with a flammable liquid and set ablaze about two months ago. The woman, who is acquainted with six other Hindu victims, said there is deep concern among members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad Temple, which she attends. Investigators from the Houston Fire Department, Fort Bend County, Harris County and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have released a composite drawing of a man seen near several of the fires who is sought for questioning. Description of the suspect from another story: Robert Baker, a chief investigator with the Fort Bend County Fire Marshal’s Office, said the man, who is 30 to 40 years of age and of Middle Eastern descent, is being sought in connection with fires in Houston, Harris and Fort Bend counties. The man is described as being about 5-feet, 3 inches to 5-feet, 5 inches tall with an average build. He was seen driving a burgundy van. A man of Middle Eastern descent burning Hindus, what a surprise! "I know we have had a series of 11 fires and that we feel they are related," said Fort Bend County Fire Marshal Vance Cooper. "What we need is help from the local community." But Cooper said he wasn’t sure if all the victims were Hindu.
All the victims say they are Hindu, what more do you need? Guess they are using the FBI "Is this a Terrorist Attack" checklist. | |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #13 .com, the majority of Hindus in US eat beef and pork. |
| Posted by: SK 2003-12-4 4:11:27 AM |
| #12 This probably doesn't file under "terrorism" but under "hate crime" -- i.e. crimes with racism / intolerance of religion as a motive. Unless I'm mistaken, "terrorism" requires a conspiracy and a political motive, don't it? (Note: "terrorism" and "hate crimes" are not mutually exclusive.) There could be just some random moron doing this. That doesn't mean this shouldn't be getting more press coverage, though. It's an outrage. |
| Posted by: Catfish N. Cod 2003-12-3 9:46:13 PM |
| #11 What gets me is the lack of press coverage. THis is the ONLY place I have seen this info. I lived in Mississippi in the 60's and everytime an African-American's house burned (arson or not), it was front-page news in NYT and WP. I am so glad the liberals are all for freedom of religion. /sarcasm |
| Posted by: SamIII 2003-12-3 5:58:09 PM |
| #10 . com in two generations you'll see steak Vishnu in Houston. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2003-12-3 4:10:09 PM |
| #9 OP -- Damn fine letter! It's such well-written and respectful letters that are worth their weight in gold and get attention, too. Way to go! |
| Posted by: Dar 2003-12-3 1:24:38 PM |
| #8 I'd like to introduce you to the Second Amendment... Dar - I just wrote a letter to President Bush about the Second Amendment that underscores what you're talking about here. I've posted it to my website at http://users.codenet.net/mweather/mysideguns.htm Check it out. What we see happening here is one of the things I wrote about. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-12-3 11:24:46 AM |
| #7 Why don't we all sit down over a rare 2" thick Prime Porterhouse and flagon of your favorite Aussie rose and work this out? |
| Posted by: .com 2003-12-3 11:16:21 AM |
| #6 To the afore-mentioned Hindus: Welcome to the United States! In addition to the First Amendment, which allows you to practice your religion free of government interference, I'd like to introduce you to the Second Amendment... |
| Posted by: Dar 2003-12-3 10:59:54 AM |
| #5 The man is described as being about 5-feet, 3 inches to 5-feet, 5 inches tall with an average build. What's the average height of an Esquimeaux? He was seen driving a burgundy van. Must be a soccer mom. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2003-12-3 10:26:09 AM |
| #4 Cheez, Robert, don't have a cow over it. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2003-12-3 10:24:37 AM |
| #3 Now who do we know that has a beef with Hindus? What? No rimshot on this one? |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2003-12-3 9:51:18 AM |
| #2 Doesn't al-Fuqra have a history of targeting Hindu temples and the like with arson fire? |
| Posted by: Dan Darling 2003-12-3 9:39:18 AM |
| #1 Must be Nepalese Maoists |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-12-3 9:38:00 AM |