"I was hit over the head and then punched in the face"
Two men were injured in a suspected racially aggravated attack after leaving a Dussehra and Bathukamma celebration in West Yorkshire.
Police are appealing for information about a group of youths seen near the venue.
The attacks took place outside Ossett Town Hall between 9:15 pm and 10:15 pm on October 17, where local Telugu Hindu community groups had organised the celebration.
Both men, who are originally from Telangana, India, suffered head and facial injuries.
One of the men said he was leaving with his wife when a member of a group of young people approached them and began shouting abuse.
The couple decided to return to the town hall for safety, but he was struck over the head and punched in the face, knocking him to the ground.
He said: “We had just left the celebration and as we set off to walk to get the car, a male came up to us and started shouting, ‘Why are you here? What are you doing here?’
“We were very intimidated so we decided to turn round to go back into the town hall.
“I’d taken a few steps and I was hit over the head and then punched in the face which knocked me to the floor.”
The man said guests were instructed to remain inside the building until police arrived, as the group continued to gather outside.
The celebration had been attended by families and children. The victim described the experience as frightening, saying those inside the venue feared the group might enter the building.
He added: “We were all scared because the mob of people were still outside and didn’t disperse until the police came.
“We were worried that they would get inside.
“When we were first approached, we just kept our heads down and tried to ignore it.
“I’ve never experienced anything like this. It was really frightening and completely unprovoked.”
According to organisers, the group, believed to be aged between 16 and 20, had been seen near the venue earlier in the evening.
Inspector Andrew Dickinson, of Wakefield West Neighbourhood Policing Team, said:
“We recognise the distress this incident has caused to those attending Saturday’s event and to the wider Hindu community.”
“Everyone has the right to attend community events safely and without fear.
“We are treating these assaults seriously and are working to ensure those responsible are held accountable.”
Organisers have called for crime reference numbers and formal statements from the injured men and witnesses, while urging that CCTV footage from the town hall and nearby streets be preserved.
