‘Hurt sentiments globally’: India condemns demolition of Vishnu statue at Thailand-Cambodia border

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday condemned the demolition of a statue of Lord Vishnu near the Thailand–Cambodia border, stating that such “disrespectful acts hurt the sentiments of followers around the world”.

The statue, reportedly built in 2014, was allegedly demolished by the Thai military earlier this week amid ongoing tensions between Thailand and Cambodia. A video showing military engineers using a bulldozer to topple the statue circulated widely on social media, triggering outrage.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Hindu and Buddhist deities are deeply revered across the region and form part of a shared civilisational heritage.

“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. Hindu and Buddhist deities are deeply revered and worshipped by people across the region, as part of our shared civilizational heritage,” Jaiswal said in a statement.

India urged both sides to exercise restraint and resolve their differences through dialogue.

“Notwithstanding territorial claims, such disrespectful acts hurt the sentiments of followers around the world, and should not take place. 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,” the statement added.

Earlier, Cambodia also criticised Thailand over the incident, asserting that the statue was located within Cambodian territory.

“The statue was inside our territory in the An Ses area,” Kim Chanpanha, a Cambodian spokesperson in the border province of Preah Vihear, told AFP.

Clashes between the two Southeast Asian neighbours first erupted in July. Although a ceasefire was agreed upon last month following mediation efforts led by US President Donald Trump, fighting has resumed this month. Thai authorities have so far not issued an official response to the demolition.