How India, Cambodia Reacted To Damage Of Lord Vishnu Statue By Thai Army | India News

India and Cambodia have expressed concern over the alleged destruction of a statue of a Hindu god near the Thai-Cambodian border; This incident triggered anger amid a growing territorial dispute between the two countries.

Cambodian officials said that the statue of Lord Vishnu, built in 2014, was found on Cambodian territory. “The statue was on our territory in the An Ses region,” Kim Chanpanha, government spokesman for the border region of Preah Vihear, told AFP. A review of Google Maps data showed that the site was approximately 400 meters from the recognized boundary line, the agency reported.

Condemning the incident, Chanpanha said, “We condemn the destruction of ancient temples and statues worshiped by Buddhist and Hindu followers.”

India also weighed in on the issue on Wednesday, calling the alleged action “disrespectful” and urging both countries to resolve their differences through dialogue and diplomacy. External Affairs Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi had taken note of reports of the statue’s demolition in an area affected by the ongoing border dispute.

“We have seen reports of the recent destruction of a statue of a Hindu religious deity constructed and located in an area affected by the ongoing Thailand-Cambodia border dispute,” Jaiswal said in response to a question from the media.

In response to media queries regarding the demolition of the Hindu god statue, Official Spokesperson Shri Randhir Jaiswal said: “We have seen reports of the demolition of a statue of a Hindu religious god constructed recently and located in an area affected by the ongoing earthquake… pic.twitter.com/UNF02mTOcR— ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2025

“Hindu and Buddhist deities are deeply revered and worshiped by people in the region as part of our common civilizational heritage,” he added.

“Despite regional claims, such disrespectful acts hurt the sentiments of followers worldwide and should not happen,” Jaiswal said.

The row comes against the backdrop of a long-running border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, which flared up again earlier this month. According to official figures cited in reports, the renewed fighting has killed more than 40 people and displaced nearly a million people.

Both sides accused each other of inciting violence and targeting civilians. Cambodia has repeatedly claimed that Thailand damaged temples along the disputed border, while Thailand claimed that Cambodian forces deployed troops near the centuries-old stone structures.