Vishnu statue damage sparks India concern

The reported destruction of a statue of Lord Vishnu near the Thailand–Cambodia border has triggered strong reactions from both India and Cambodia, adding a cultural flashpoint to an already tense border dispute between the two Southeast Asian neighbours.

Cambodian officials said the statue, built in 2014, was located well within Cambodian territory in the An Ses area of Preah Vihear province. According to their account, the structure stood about 100 metres inside the border when it was demolished earlier this week. Cambodian authorities condemned the act, calling it an attack on religious symbols revered by both Hindu and Buddhist communities.

India also expressed concern over the incident, describing it as deeply hurtful to the sentiments of devotees across the world. Responding to the development, New Delhi said Hindu and Buddhist deities form part of a shared civilisational heritage across the region and stressed that acts showing disrespect to religious symbols should not occur, regardless of territorial claims.

India urged Thailand and Cambodia to address their differences through dialogue and diplomacy, underlining the need to prevent further escalation.

The statue controversy comes amid renewed fighting along the disputed border, a conflict that has flared up again this month after years of relative calm. The violence has reportedly claimed more than 40 lives and forced nearly a million people to flee their homes. Both sides have accused each other of provoking clashes and targeting civilian areas.

Cambodia has alleged that religious sites and temples near the border have been damaged during the fighting, while Thailand has countered that Cambodian forces were using ancient temple complexes for military positioning.

As tensions continue, the demolition of the statue has added a sensitive religious dimension to an already volatile situation, drawing international attention and calls for restraint.