New Delhi: International students from different countries were assaulted on the campus of Gujarat University on March 16 night, allegedly by a group that did not want them to offer namaz. Some injured students have been admitted to SVP Hospital in Ahmedabad.
“Around 300 foreign students from Africa, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and other countries study here at the Gujarat University,” Ahmedabad Police Commissioner G.S. Malik said, according to The Hindu. “In Block A, around 75 foreign students, who live there, were offering prayers at their hostel yesterday around 10.30 p.m. Some 20-25 people entered the hostel premises and objected to the international students offering namaz there, asking them to do so in a mosque. They argued over the issue, assaulted them and hurled stones.”
Malik said that the situation was under control now, and an FIR was registered against 20-25 people and they will be arrested soon.
According to Vibes of India, the violence was created by a group yelling ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans. “Videos showing vandalism and stone pelting have gone viral on social media. The clips also showed damaged bikes, broken laptops and ravaged rooms. In some of the visuals, people are seen throwing stones at the hostel and hurling abuses at the overseas students. In the visuals, the international students are heard saying that they are “scared” and that “this is unacceptable”,” the portal reported.
Since there is no mosque on campus, the students had reportedly gathered in a hostel earmarked for foreign students to offer namaz at night during the month of Ramzan. A mob then stormed their rooms and broke their belongings.
AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said on X, “What a shame. When your devotion & religious slogans only come out when Muslims peacefully practice their religion. When you become unexplainably angry at the mere sight of Muslims. What is this, if not mass radicalisation? This is the home state of Amit Shah & Narendra Modi, will they intervene to send a strong message? I am not holding my breath. Dr S Jaishankar domestic anti-Muslim hatred is destroying India’s goodwill.”
Gujarat University vice-chancellor Neerja Arun Gupta said in a statement to ANI that the violence erupted because of a “clash” between two groups. She also said that the police and government are taking the matter very seriously.
The Ministry of External Affairs has also said it has taken cognisance of the matter and is in touch with the state government.
