Foreign Students Attacked While Offering Ramadan Prayers In Gujarat University Hostel

Ahmedabad: Four foreign students at Gujarat University’s international boys’ hostel in Ahmedabad sustained injuries after they were allegedly attacked by a mob over offering namaaz during Ramzan late on Saturday.

The police have filed an FIR and are currently investigating the incident. Two of the students, who suffered severe injuries, are under treatment at SVP Hospital and their condition is stated to be stable.

After taking stock of the situation at the university hostel, Ahmedabad Police Commissioner G S Mallik told the media that the incident took place around 10.30 pm when foreign students from Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were offering namaz and 20-25 people asked them to do so at a mosque. “This led to a scuffle, stone pelting, and vandalism in hostel rooms as well,” he said.

Mallik said that the police control room got a call about the incident at 10.51 pm and a PCR van reached the spot at 10.56 pm. “We have taken serious note of the incident and strict action will be taken. Nine teams have been formed (to probe the incident). Commissioner (Crime Brach) will monitor the case. One accused has been identified and all involved in the incident will be arrested soon,” he said.

He added that 75 of the total 300 foreign students in Gujarat University stay in A block hostel.

Imran Khedawala, the Congress Member of Legislative Assembly from Jamalpur Khadia and former MLA Gyasuddin Sheikh, were among the first to reach the spot on Saturday night and rush the students to the hospital. “The rooms of these foreign students were also ransacked and those involved in the attack damaged their laptops and mobile phones,” the MLA said.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) also issued on Sunday,“Such incidents in the campus raise serious questions on the security arrangements of the campus. ABVP demands strict security arrangements from the Gujarat University administration.”