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CoHNA hosts community safety event in San Jose
The event, called ‘Suraksha,’ was held at Shreemaya Krishnadham Temple and brought together Hindu community members
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Staff Reporter - Sun, 17, May 2026
- 00:45 EDT
- 23
CoHNA logo / CoHNA
The Coalition of Hindus of North America, or CoHNA, partnered with the San Jose Police Department and the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office to host a community education event focused on public safety, hate crime reporting and concerns about anti-Hindu bias in San Jose.
The event, called ‘Suraksha,’ was held at Shreemaya Krishnadham Temple and brought together Hindu community members, law enforcement officials and prosecutors amid concerns following four temple attacks in California. Organizers said the program was part of CoHNA’s broader effort to educate communities about reporting hate-related incidents and to improve engagement with law enforcement agencies.
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“This kind of engagement is critical,” said Manan Rawal, director of CoHNA’s Bay Area chapter.
“Ensuring that our community understands how to report incidents, and that law enforcement understands Hindu community concerns, is an essential step toward building trust and improving safety outcomes.”
Rawal also thanked the San Jose Police Department, the district attorney’s office and temple trustees for supporting the event.
The session included presentations from SJPD Lt. Anthony Kilmer and Sgt. Kassey Padia, along with representatives from the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, including Chief Trial Deputy Daniel Okonkwo and Supervising Deputy District Attorney Adam Flores.
According to organizers, the program opened with sacred mantras and a welcome for officers from young members of the Hindu community.
Police officials explained how hate crimes and hate-motivated incidents are identified, investigated and reported. Officers outlined the distinction between criminal acts motivated by bias and incidents that may not meet the legal definition of a crime but are still documented by law enforcement.
Officials also explained reporting procedures, including when to call emergency services and how non-emergency incidents should be documented. Officers said reporting incidents, regardless of severity, helps law enforcement identify patterns, allocate resources and intervene early when necessary.
Representatives from the district attorney’s office discussed the legal process surrounding hate crime prosecutions and described victim support resources available through the District Attorney’s Victim Services Unit and the California Victim Compensation Board.
Citing Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen’s message that “hate has no home here,” officials said prosecuting hate crimes sends a message that bias-motivated violence affects entire communities, not only individual victims.
Pushpita Prasad, CoHNA’s chief communications officer, also addressed concerns within the Hindu community, including online and in-person anti-Hindu hate, a recent assault involving a San Jose State University student and misunderstandings surrounding the Hindu use of the swastika symbol.
“What stood out to me was the emphasis on reporting, even when incidents may seem minor,” said Nabeena, a San Jose resident who attended the event.
“Many people, especially in immigrant communities like ours, are often reluctant to approach the police.”
She added that hearing directly from police officers and prosecutors clarified the reporting process and made the system feel more accessible.
SJPD officials also addressed concerns commonly raised in immigrant communities, including language access and immigration status. Officers said translation services and multilingual personnel are available and emphasized that immigration status does not affect police response or access to assistance.
Organizers said the event is part of CoHNA’s ongoing ‘Suraksha’ initiative, which focuses on community education and engagement with law enforcement agencies across the United States and Canada.
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