An Indian man living in Dublin, who was attacked by a group of teenagers over the weekend, has decided to return to India following the incident, highlighting fears within the local Indian community.
The man, who requested anonymity, told Irish media that he was assaulted by three individuals on Sunday evening while walking home from Fairview Park. He said one of the attackers, riding an electric scooter, kicked him in the stomach.
“As I tried to walk away, two others joined in the attack and started hitting me,” he told The Journal.
The attackers continued to kick and punch him even after he fell to the ground, and one of them struck him above the eye with a metal water bottle, causing a deep cut and heavy bleeding. He was later taken to hospital, where he received stitches for his injuries.
The Irish police said they are investigating the incident, which is the latest in a series of violent assaults targeting members of the Indian community.
The man added that his parents in India were concerned and urged him to return home, which he has now arranged. “Many of my friends are now scared to go outside,” he said, noting that some are also considering returning to India.
The Indian Embassy in Ireland confirmed that Ambassador Akhilesh Mishra met with Tony Tighe, Detective Inspector, Liaison and Protection, and Ciaran P. Nunan, Inspector of An Garda Siochana, on Wednesday to discuss the situation.
Earlier, Ireland’s President Michael D. Higgins issued a strongly worded statement “to unequivocally condemn the despicable attacks” on members of the Indian community.
“The recent despicable attacks on members of the Indian community stand in stark contradiction to the values that we as a people hold dear,” Higgins said on Tuesday.
The intervention followed a similarly firm statement by the Archbishop of Dublin, condemning the “truly shocking” and “unprovoked” attacks.
Amid security concerns, the Ireland India Council announced on Monday that it would postpone its annual “India Day” celebrations, originally planned for Sunday in Dublin.
An Garda Siochana said that investigations into the recent attacks are ongoing and that officers are “liaising with the injured parties in each case.”
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