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Hindu priest’s family attacked

LONDON: The Northern Ireland police are investigating an alleged racist attack on the family of a Hindu priest in North Belfast, regarded as a hotbed of sectarianism with a history of violent clashes.

The priest, who lives with his wife and two children in the Indian Community Centre, was reported as saying, after the June 15 attack, that the family planned to leave Belfast. But a spokesman of the centre told The Hindu, “Police have reassured them and they are not leaving.”

The family declined to speak to the media or give the names of its members.

The attack took place a little after 10 p.m., when the priest’s wife was alone in the house. A gang of youth reportedly tried to break down the front door and threw stones.

It also allegedly tried to enter the house by clambering up the water pipes and removing window grilles.

The victim’s daughter and son were reportedly chased by the gang when they returned home from work.

Police said they were taking the incident seriously. “Police take any such report extremely seriously and would encourage the community to report all incidents so they can be followed up,” a spokesman said.

The centre on Thursday described the attack as an “isolated incident.”

“Northern Ireland is much safer for Indians than many other places in the U.K.,”’ an official said, requesting “not to play up the incident.”

The incident came even as 75 Romanians prepared to leave Northern Ireland after a series of racist attacks.

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