The US Congressional Caucus on India has urged the FBI and the Department of Justice to investigate the alleged plot to carry out a mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Illinois as a federal hate crime. IIn a letter to Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel on Friday, the caucus called for a thorough probe to determine whether anyone encouraged, assisted or coordinated with the 19-year-old suspect, either online or offline.“This plot did not emerge in isolation but reflects broader, troubling trends,” Congressmen Rich McCormick and Ro Khanna, co-chairs of the House India Caucus, said in the letter.The letter cited FBI data showing an increase in reported hate crimes targeting Sikh, Hindu and Buddhist communities in 2025. The lawmakers urged the FBI and the Department of Justice to investigate the alleged plot as a potential federal hate crime and bring all charges supported by the evidence.They also called on the agencies to “share timely threat information with state and local law enforcement and with Hindu temples, Sikh gurdwaras, and other South Asian houses of worship, and offer them protective resources”.The lawmakers further asked Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel to brief the caucus on threats facing Hindu and Indian Americans and the steps being taken by their agencies to address them.“Brief the Caucus on threats facing Hindu Americans and Indian Americans and the steps the Department and FBI are taking to address them,” they said.US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi earlier said he and his family were worshipping at the Hindu temple in Aurora when the alleged attack was attempted. “My family and I were worshipping at our Hindu temple in Aurora on Sunday when a white supremacist attempted a mass shooting targeting Indian Americans. I’m grateful to those who helped prevent a tragedy, but we must come together to confront the hatred that put so many innocent lives at risk,” he said.The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday also expressed deep concern over the incident. Addressing a media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “This is obviously a matter of deep concern for us. At the same time, it is something that shows or highlights the increasing cases of hate crimes and racial discrimination against the Indian communities in the United States.”Jaiswal said India had taken note of the action taken by US law enforcement authorities following the incident, but called on Washington to ensure the safety and security of Indian nationals in the country.The accused was arrested on October 11 after a colleague alerted authorities to suspicious electronic communications, according to investigators and local police departments.Investigators later recovered a document outlining the alleged attack plan, along with firearms, hundreds of rounds of rifle ammunition, tactical equipment, body armour and a manifesto titled “Why I Fought: A.K.A. (Aurora Shooter’s Manifesto)”, which expressed white supremacist views.Prosecutors alleged that the accused openly identified as a white supremacist and expressed an eagerness to kill Indian people. The allegations remain subject to judicial proceedings and have not been proven in court.