'Disrespectful': India on demolition of Hindu deity's statue in Cambodia

"We have seen reports on the demolition of a statue of a Hindu religious deity, built in recent times, and located in an area affected by the ongoing Thai-Cambodia border dispute," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

• India condemns demolition of Hindu statue amid Thai-Cambodia border conflict
• India urges Thailand and Cambodia to resolve issues via dialogue and diplomacy
• Border clashes persist despite ceasefire, causing casualties and property damage

Did our AI summary help?

India on Wednesday voiced concerns over the demolition of a statue of a Hindu deity in Cambodia, allegedly by the Thai Army.

In a statement, the ministry of external affairs said such "disrespectful" acts hurt the sentiments of followers around the world, even as it urged both Thailand and Cambodia to resolve their border dispute through dialogue and diplomacy.

"We have seen reports on the demolition of a statue of a Hindu religious deity, built in recent times, and located in an area affected by the ongoing Thai-Cambodia border dispute," external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

"Hindu and Buddhist deities are deeply revered and worshipped by people across the region, as part of our shared civilizational heritage," he said.

Jaiswal was responding to a media query on the issue.

"Notwithstanding territorial claims, such disrespectful acts hurt the sentiments of followers around the world, and should not take place," he said.

"We once again urge the two sides to return to dialogue and diplomacy, to resume peace and avoid any further loss of lives, and damage to property and heritage," Jaiswal added.

The border clashes between the two Southeast Asian countries erupted in July.

Both countries agreed on a ceasefire in July that was brokered by US President Donald Trump. The fight broke out again this month.

Thailand's military said on Wednesday that there had been clashes in the border provinces of Sisaket and Surin, Thai media reported, with Thai forces responding to Cambodian BM-21 rocket attacks with artillery, tank fire and drones.

One Thai soldier was injured in the Pha Mo I Daeng-Huai Ta Maria area of Sisaket province, the Thai army said, before Thai forces returned fire, striking more than 19 Cambodian military targets.

Cambodia's ministry of national defence said Thai forces had carried out air attacks on Banan district in the northwestern border province of Battambang, hitting a civilian residential area with four bombs, as reported by Al Jazeera.