Bangkok: The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has issued a statement condemning Thailand for the removal of Hindu statues in a disputed area along the Thai-Cambodian border. The incident has sparked concerns over cultural heritage and respect for religious beliefs.

According to Thai News Agency, the Army Military Force Facebook page reported that the Indian Ministry of External Affairs expressed strong disapproval of the Thai army’s actions. The removal of Hindu deity statues in the Chong An Ma area, a contentious region between Thailand and Cambodia, was perceived as an act of disrespect towards cultural heritage and the spirit of Hindu believers.

The incident unfolded after a military operation on December 22, 2025, when the Thai army successfully reclaimed the Chong An Ma area. Following this, army engineers dismantled Hindu deity statues near a local casino. The Thai authorities considered the statues to be new symbols erected by Cambodian soldiers in an attempt to unlawfully assert sovereignty over the territory.

On December 24, 2025, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, issued a press release highlighting the significance of the removed statue, which was of Vishnu, a supreme deity in Hinduism. He stressed that Hindu and Buddhist deities are part of a shared cultural heritage in the region. The destruction of such a statue, even amidst a territorial dispute, was described as deeply offensive to believers worldwide and an event that should not have occurred.