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Hindu priest attacked near temple in Queens, NY; suspect arrested
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Queens, New York:

Swami Ji Harish Chander Puri of the Shiv Shakti Peeth in Glen Oaks in Queens, was attacked by a man on Thursday, July 18, morning as he was walking near the temple.

Police arrested 52-year old Sergio Gouveia and charged him with assault, harassment and criminal possession of a weapon. Police said they're looking into whether this is a potential hate crime, according to PIX 11

Worshippers felt that he was targeted. The attacker was screamed things like, ‘this is my neighborhood,’ during the incident.
Swami was wearing his religious clothes just walking around the block, said worshipper Sanjeev Jindal.

The incident occurred around 11 am. The swami was rushed to a hospital with injuries. He was discharged next day
‘I’m in a little pain,’ Swami told the PIX 11 reporter from the temple Friday night.
He said while he was walking down the street in his religious garb, a man came up from behind and started hitting him, repeatedly. He was beaten so badly, he had to be rushed to the hospital.
He said he will be praying for the man who attacked him.

‘The fact that was dressed religious wear def made him stick out. I hope we could all come together in some way,’ another worshipper Radha Bakshi told the PIX 11.

‘We are concerned since yesterday what is going on in our neighborhood,’ said Jindal.


(CNN)A Hindu priest was attacked in a Queens, New York, neighborhood this week, and a suspect was arrested in the case, a congresswoman said Saturday.

"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," Rep. Grace Meng, D-New York, said in a statement.
Police confirmed Sergio Gouveia, 52, was arrested and charged with felony assault and harassment in the second degree in the Thursday attack on a 62-year-old man. Police would not provide any details about the victim.
An NYPD spokesperson said the victim was taken to a hospital after being punched and hit with an object believed to be an umbrella. The victim suffered cuts to his head, nose, chest, arms and legs, the spokesperson said.
    Investigators do not believe there is a hate crime component connected at this point, the second NYPD spokesperson said. The arrest paperwork states the dispute stemmed over the victim walking in the suspect's neighborhood, another police department spokesperson said.