Mother ‘lives in fear’ after family home targeted five times in past months

A mother ‘lives in fear’ after her family home was targeted five times in the past four months. Rukmini Chaulagain, 31, and her husband Suman, 41, have been repeatedly targeted in a series of racially motivated attacks on their home over the past four months.

The first incident happened in April when someone smashed the family’s car and front windows with rocks in the middle of the night.

Rukmini, who moved from Nepal four years ago, was devastated, although he thought the incident was “unique”.

However, her home was attacked four more times, the last time on July 12.

Ms Chaulagain said she was now “so fed up” with the situation that she did not understand why they were being targeted.

The mother-of-two from Ipswich, Suffolk said: ‘The last four months have been a complete nightmare. We live in fear of the next attack.

“We don’t have any problems with anyone. The only reason for the attacks that I can think of is that we are victims of a racial hate crime. We need people’s help to identify this individual. We can’t stand it much longer.

She has a four-year-old and a nine-year-old who are terrified of living in their own homes.

The family captured CCTV footage which shows their car and the front of their house being pelted with rocks repeatedly.

The mother approached Suffolk Police after the first attack on April 16, however, no arrests were made even after a lengthy investigation.

She said: “Every little noise we hear terrifies us. I don’t think the person wants to steal anything, he just wants to bother us. But it could be worse next time, we don’t know.

“His confidence level is definitely high now, he could do anything when he comes back. I have two young children at home with my eldest, and I need the police to come up with a plan and protect us. I feel like we’re just waiting for that person to come back again and again.

Each attack cost the family a lot of financial and mental trauma. She added: “My children ask me every day if anything is going to happen today and if the police have come up with anything with their investigation.

“That’s all we can think of and at the moment there seems to be no way out of this situation. If anyone can identify this person, please help us.

Suffolk Police said the incidents were being treated as targeted and potentially racist.

They said: ‘Police believe the incidents are targeted but remain open as to the motive. Suffolk Police remain determined to identify those responsible for these offences.

“Officers from the Ipswich West Safer Neighborhood Team, together with the Ipswich Neighborhood Response Team, are continuing to investigate the circumstances and a number of inquiries are ongoing.

“Police recognize the distress such incidents can cause and officers are staying in contact with victims and providing regular updates and appropriate support.”

Policing and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore added: ‘I am appalled to learn of these horrific attacks on a family in their own home. The plight of those affected is absolutely deplorable. I can absolutely assure the victims that the gendarmerie is committed to identifying those responsible and I hope that once apprehended, they will feel the full weight of the law.

“I would ask anyone with information to contact the police.”

To call and report information anonymously, call CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.