Hate crime probe into Leicester violence following India-Pak Asia Cup cricket match

India beat arch-rivals Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday, following which hundreds of India cricket fans poured into the streets of the Belgrave area of Leicester — which is predominantly Indian-origin — waving the Indian flag, honking car horns and dancing to dhols. A video, which has gone viral, shows one group of India fans, one wearing a Team Indian jersey, walking towards the corner of Shaftesbury Avenue and Melton Road, shouting “Pakistan Murdabad” at the other side of the road. A police officer can be seen arresting one person on the ground and then the video shows a group beating up a man and ripping off his shirt.

British Sikh journalist Sunny Hundal tweeted: “In Leicester extremist Hindutva groups go on the rampage in Leicester. Shocking stuff (sic)”, whilst an anonymous Twitter account tweeted: “As if it wasn’t enough in India, now we’ve got these Nazi lovers in the UK disrupting the harmony between different communities.” However Dharmesh Lakhani, owner of Bobby’s Restaurant on Belgrave Road, told TOI: “The majority of the celebrations were positive and people were having a good evening celebrating India’s win. I am told that someone anti-India stamped on an Indian flag and the Indian fans thought that person was Pakistani and that infuriated the India supporters.

This was an isolated incident in a celebration by thousands of people on Sunday night. It is absolute rubbish to say this was mob violence by Hindus.” A member of the public and an officer were assaulted during the disorder, Leicestershire police said. A 28-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault and assaulting an emergency worker.