White gang’s racist attack

Reporter: Richard Hooton
Date published: 10 March 2010


TWO Asian men were badly beaten by a gang in a racist attack in Oldham.

Zafar Ali Khan (26) suffered a broken arm and both he and father-in-law Sikander Khan (50) were left badly bruised after being attacked by up to six white youths in Hollins Road..

The pair, from Werneth, had been out on an evening walk when the gang, aged from 17 to 22, hurled racist abuse at them.

They ignored it and tried to walk away but were knocked to the ground and repeatedly hit.

Two girls walking by stopped the attack and a passing motorist called the police and an ambulance. The assault took place close to the Limeline Private Hire firm.

Zafar’s wife, who did not want to give her full name, said: “My husband will be out of work for three to four months with a broken arm. It was such a shock and even now they are scared to go out of the house.

“It’s scary. You don’t expect anyone to do that to you. For a 50-year-old man to be lying on the ground and beaten is terrible.”

The couple were already having to come to terms with the death, from a rare genetic condition, of their 14-month-old daughter Arub last October.

Sikander has run a tyre retreading and repair shop in Manchester Road for 28 years.

Police have classed the crime, which happened at 9pm on Sunday, February 28, as a racial common assault and are studying CCTV footage. Any witnesses or anyone with information is asked to call them on 0161-872 5050.