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A University of Bath lecturer has described the moment he was targeted in a random racially-motivated attack in Bath last week.

Dr Yukteshwar Kumar was told to "go back to your country’" and "f**k you" by a white female cyclist near St John’s Church.

The incident, which occurred around 5.50pm on January 30, left the 49 year-old social activist shocked and determined to raise awareness of the issue.

Although born in India, Dr Kumar has lived in Bath with his family since 2007 and is proud to call the city home.

(Image: paulgillisphoto.com)

“I absolutely love Bath and have delivered public lectures in the city centre and at various schools in B&NES and Wiltshire county on numerous occasions,” he said.

“I also deliver talks on equality and diversity and am a Liberal Democrat activist.”

It was while out trying to help local residents that he was approached by a stranger and yelled at based purely on his appearance.

He shared his story with Somerset Live.

Dr Kumar said: “Last week, I was meeting residents on their doorsteps and trying to understand their concerns at St John’s Road.

“After meeting a resident near St. John’s Church, I was writing her concern about the rat-run during the evening peak hours on that road on my note-pad.

“Suddenly a woman on a cycle stopped near me and started shouting: ‘Where are you from? Go back to your country. BREXIT has already happened.’

“She repeated this more than five times.

“When I said, ‘Great Britain is my country and this country has given me so much that I shall remain indebted and that’s why I am trying to give it back by doing some social and community service’; she showed her middle finger.

“I further said, "We love this country and my 13-year-old son represents England in Junior Chess tournaments."

“She added 'f**k you and f**k your England.’”

(Image: paulgillisphoto.com)

Dr Kumar tried to find out identifying details such as her name but she refused to tell him.

Unfortunately his phone battery had died so he was also unable to take her photo or record the conversation.

Regardless, he decided to report it to make sure people are aware that these shameful incidents are still happening.

He said: “Racial and verbal abuse including threatening behaviour must not be tolerated in our society.

“I have already reported about this to the police but hope the local print and electronic media highlights this issue and nobody else in our community should fall victim of this in our beautiful town.”

Avon and Somerset Police is calling for witnesses to come forward.

It said: "We have spoken to the victim and will be arranging to take a statement. Our enquiries into the incident are continuing.

"Anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident is asked to contact us, quoting reference 5219027613."

It is not the first time, Dr Kumar has been the target of racially-motivated abuse.

“It has happened before and unfortunately I did not write to the media or report it to the police. I regret that,” he said.

“Four years ago in 2015 I was in Larkhall with a Chinese friend and a woman walking her dog said something like: ‘I will set my dogs free so they can eat you – so you get cut up.

"You Chinese and Indians ruined this country. Bath is becoming like Birmingham or Leicester.’”

(Image: paulgillisphoto.com)

Despite these incidents, Dr Kumar is not deterred from his well-established life in Bath which he shares with his wife, 13-year-old son and an 80-year-old mother-in-law with Parkinson’s.

Currently course director of politics, languages and international studies at the University of Bath, even an available promotion won’t tempt him away.

“I love this country so much. I’ve just been offered a ‘better’ job with accommodation provided in China but I turned it down as I love this city,” he said.

“Bath was the first city I came to in the UK in 2007 – I didn’t even go to London – and I’ve been here ever since.”

But Dr Kumar will not remain silent in the face of abuse again.

“If we do not raise this issue and increase awareness against hate crime, racial and verbal abuse, we will be not doing justice to ourselves,” he said.

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