<p>Chinese-origin people in the city, some living here since birth, have become targets of racial discrimination and slurs, amid the growing panic over the Covid-19 pandemic, which began in China.</p>.<p>Francis Yee Lepcha (41), whose grandfather had migrated from China decades ago, said he had been encountering glares and cold stares since the outbreak of the disease.</p>.<p>A musician by profession, Lepcha took to Facebook to post a picture wearing a tee-shirt which said he was from Kolkata and had never been to China.</p>.<p>"During my recent trip to Puri, I could hear people taunting me and addressing me as 'corona'. It was then I decided I should do something about it.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-india-update-state-wise-total-number-of-confirmed-cases-812987.html">Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases</a></strong></p>.<p>"I posted my picture on social media wearing a white tee-shirt which said that I was from the city and have not been to China. The picture went viral on the Internet and many have since expressed regret over the incident," he said.</p>.<p>A city-based businesswoman said one of her acquaintances had a similar experience recently at a grocery shop in Tangra area, also known as Kolkata's Chinatown.</p>.<p>"Her father is of Chinese origin and mother a Nepalese. A grocery shop owner called her 'corona' when she visited his shop to buy essentials. The girl immediately protested, following which the grocer apologised, she said.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-live-updates-first-indian-army-jawan-tests-positive-all-his-colleagues-quarantined-799686.html" target="_blank"><strong>Follow live updates of coronavirus cases in India here</strong></a></p>.<p>Another school teacher in the city, also of Chinese origin, said any person with mongoloid features are being targeted, including those from the northeast.</p>.<p>"Hopefully things will fall in place and misconceptions will be cleared once the crisis is over," she added.</p>
<p>Chinese-origin people in the city, some living here since birth, have become targets of racial discrimination and slurs, amid the growing panic over the Covid-19 pandemic, which began in China.</p>.<p>Francis Yee Lepcha (41), whose grandfather had migrated from China decades ago, said he had been encountering glares and cold stares since the outbreak of the disease.</p>.<p>A musician by profession, Lepcha took to Facebook to post a picture wearing a tee-shirt which said he was from Kolkata and had never been to China.</p>.<p>"During my recent trip to Puri, I could hear people taunting me and addressing me as 'corona'. It was then I decided I should do something about it.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-india-update-state-wise-total-number-of-confirmed-cases-812987.html">Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases</a></strong></p>.<p>"I posted my picture on social media wearing a white tee-shirt which said that I was from the city and have not been to China. The picture went viral on the Internet and many have since expressed regret over the incident," he said.</p>.<p>A city-based businesswoman said one of her acquaintances had a similar experience recently at a grocery shop in Tangra area, also known as Kolkata's Chinatown.</p>.<p>"Her father is of Chinese origin and mother a Nepalese. A grocery shop owner called her 'corona' when she visited his shop to buy essentials. The girl immediately protested, following which the grocer apologised, she said.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-live-updates-first-indian-army-jawan-tests-positive-all-his-colleagues-quarantined-799686.html" target="_blank"><strong>Follow live updates of coronavirus cases in India here</strong></a></p>.<p>Another school teacher in the city, also of Chinese origin, said any person with mongoloid features are being targeted, including those from the northeast.</p>.<p>"Hopefully things will fall in place and misconceptions will be cleared once the crisis is over," she added.</p>