A Dublin activist has told of the horrific racist attack that left her bleeding and in pain in south Dublin.
Shubhangi Karmakar, 22, was walking along Reuben Street with a friend after her medical school placement on Monday evening when a group of youths approached them.
She told Dublin Live: “I was just walking towards St James’ Hospital with a friend after a medical school placement in the Coombe Hospital. [The road we were walking on] was unfortunately disused, but it wasn’t dark or anything. It was around 5 pm.
“There were like six or seven lads were walking towards us, crossing the road. Three of them passed me- my friend was walking to my left, and one of the lads just decided he was going to say a [racial] slur at me, but I only half heard because the next thing I know, I was shoved into my friend.
“He was nearly six foot so his shoulder was basically shoved into all of my right ear, jaw, and shoulder. He was laughing and my friend basically heard all of what he said. It was terrifying.”
Shubhangi, who is a British citizen but was born in India, said that the attack has left her feeling traumatised.
The force of the vicious attack left her bleeding from the mouth and unable to open or close her jaw.
She said: “My ears are still not fine. I can’t move all my neck. It was so bad today. I actually caught my hand in a car door because I couldn’t hear or see the door.
“If I have to look to my right, I have to turn my whole body. It’s just really disconcerting.”
Speaking about the aftermath, Shubhangi observed on Twitter: “You know who actually came up to me after at the Luas?
“A lovely black/POC couple who were walking behind us - not any of the other white passers by or bystanders.
“They literally came and said sorry you should never have had to go through that. But it’s not on them. At all.”
A garda spokeswoman said: “Gardai are investigating the assault of a female (20s) which occurred on Reuben Street, Dublin 8 on January 6, 2020 at approximately 5:00pm.
“No arrests have been made. Investigations are ongoing.”
