WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES. Parth Upadhyay, 30, suffered serious facial injuries when he was brutally attacked by a gang of youths in Liverpool, who sprayed him with water and smashed his face
A man on his way to the first day of his new job was squirted with water guns by a gang of youths who taunted him with a racist slur before bashing him over the head, leaving him bloodied and bruised.
Parth Upadhyay, 30, had stopped to ask another man directions when they were both approached by three youths who asked “what are you going to do p***?” sprayed them both with water guns. When he attempted to push the water guns away from him, the youth became enraged and used racist language before he hit him over the head with the butt of the water gun, causing Mr Upadhyay to black out and suffer a fractured nose. When he came to he found the other man he was with was tending to his wounds before helpfully calling the police.
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Mr Upadhyay, a masters degree student who came to the UK from India in January to study at the University of Chester, told Liverpool Echo: “I’m afraid for my own safety and security. It’s so traumatic. I’m an international student; I just came here in January and I’m starting to think I made a big mistake in coming here.
“I think it’s not safe. I thought I would have a better future, but it’s not what I hoped for. I had a good career in India. I could have settled down, but thought if I went abroad I could get a better education and build a better life. My parents didn’t want me to go but knew I wanted to see more life, more of the world. But now I see their point of view.”
He went on to say: “The only thing I want right now is for these people who think racial hate crime is a joke to be found and prosecuted. That is what I am hoping for. I’m hoping for justice. It’s 100% not acceptable and I’m not going to back down on it. This is near the end of the semester and I’m supposed to have my exams, but I can’t even see right now. It’s put a significant dent in my life.”
Mr Upadhyay spoke to police officers at the scene, and was taken to Royal Liverpool Hospital, where doctors glued the gash above his eye. He is still awaiting treatment for his fractured nose.
He said: “Right now my eye is completely closed. I can’t see anything. I have breathing difficulty. I was supposed to be starting a new job, but I can’t even do anything right now.”
A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: “We are investigating following reports a man was assaulted in Old Swan. At around 2.55pm on Friday 2 May the man was walking along St Oswalds Lane, at the junction of Mill Lane, when he spotted a group of youths in possession of a plastic water gun.
“The man reported the youths sprayed him with the water gun and when he challenged them he was hit over the head with the gun causing a deep cut to his eye. He was taken to hospital for treatment for his injuries. An investigation is underway and CCTV and witness enquiries are in the process of being carried out.”
Detective Sergeant Mark Pedder added: “This was a nasty and unprovoked assault on a man who was simply going about his business. I would appeal to anyone who was in the area of St Oswalds Lane on Friday afternoon who saw or heard anything which could assist our enquiries to contact us.”
Anyone with information which could assist the investigation is asked to DM @MerPolCC or contact CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 25000363885
