No more attacks on former York Gurkha

12:30pm Thursday 20th November 2008

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A FORMER Gurkha whose family was subjected to racist abuse in York says there have been no incidents since an article was published in The Press.

Nandaraj Rai, 43, of Kingsway North, has thanked The Press for printing an article highlighting the abuse he and his family have suffered and says that attacks have stopped.

Mr Rai was born in Nepal and joined the Gurkhas when he was 18, he spent nearly 20 years serving Queen and country and for 14 years he has lived in the UK, gaining his British citizenship in 2005.

But, as The Press reported last week, for the past two years Mr Rai, who now trains soldiers at Imphal Barracks, has had to endure abuse from a small group of local youths, who throw stones and eggs at his house and have racially abused him.

Mr Rai said, to his relief, since the piece was in the paper there have been no repeat incidents and he has had a lot of support from members of the public.

He said: “I have had a peaceful time and I hope that it lasts. Since the article was published I have had wonderful support from the public, many people have written letters to me and I am very grateful to them for that.

“The police have also been very supportive, and I hope that this is the end to it now.”

Mr Rai served 19 years with the Queen’s Gurkha Signals, providing communications support to troops during the first Gulf War from the Army’s communications centre in Hong Kong, before being deployed to the Balkans in the mid-1990s to support peacekeeping troops.

He moved into Kingsway North with his wife, Subhadra, and 19-year-old son, Roshan, in 2005. But the following year, trouble started.

Police said they had been called by Mr Rai and the matter was now under investigation.

“If it comes to light that that this alleged antisocial behaviour and harassment is racially motivated, the complainant and the local community as a whole can rest assured that action will be taken against those responsible,” said a spokesman.

Anyone with information should phone the police on 0845 6060247 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.