Mercer Co. Hindu Temple Sued, Accused Of Forced Labor

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — A Hindu temple in Robbinsville has been accused of forced labor, wage theft, and trafficking, according to a federal lawsuit.

The Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, also known as BAPS is located on Route 130 in Robbinsville. It opened in 2014 and is built entirely out of Italian marble.

A lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court New Jersey accused the temple of recruiting men from India to come work at the temple for $450 a month, or around $1.20 an hour.

On Tuesday, the same day the lawsuit was filed, federal agents were on the grounds of the temple, reported CBSN Philly. The FBI did not confirm what action they took while on the compound, said reports.

According to the lawsuit, temple leadership recruited Indian nationals belonging to the marginalized Dalit caste — considered “untouchables” — for construction and stoneworking jobs in the U.S. The workers were brought to the country on an R-1 or religious visa, used for clergy and lay religious workers, said the lawsuit.

Once they arrived, the workers had their passports taken. They lived in trailers hidden on the property and were not allowed to leave the compound.

The lawsuit alleges that security guards in BAPS uniforms were stationed where the workers lived and worked. Cameras around the temple monitored and recorded their activities. Workers said they were "summoned to work each day by a siren."

The workers were even prohibited from speaking to visitors and any failure to obey this rule resulted in their already meager pay being reduced further, said the lawsuit.

One worker, identified in the lawsuit as Moham Lal, allegedly "died while he was subjected to forced labor at the temple."

The temple leadership "retaliated against other workers" after they organized to demand that "Lal's remains to be treated according to his religious rituals," and that they improve working conditions, said the lawsuit.

Lenin Joshi, a spokesperson for BAPS, told the New York Times that they were “shaken” by the turn of events and said, “once the full facts come out," they will provide answers and to "show that these accusations and allegations are without merit.”

At Wednesday's press conference, Gov. Phil Murphy address the issues and called it "horrific" and "unfathomable."

"This is not about religion or the faith side of it. This is clearly - assuming these allegations are proven to be true - horrific administrative behavior."

Murphy recalled the time he visited the BAPS temple in New Delhi, India a few years ago.

"Nobody can live in the conditions that are being alleged here, being paid what they're being paid, all on false premises. It's awful."

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