Foreign Students At Gujarat University Say They Were Attacked During Prayers, MEA Takes Note; 2 Held

The external affairs ministry on Sunday said that the government of Gujarat has initiated strict action against the perpetrators who engaged in an incident of violence at Gujarat University in Ahmedabad on Saturday.

The external affairs ministry said that it is in touch with the Gujarat government and said that out of the two injured foreign students one was discharged from hospital after receiving medical attention. Meanwhile, the Ahmedabad Police has arrested two people accused of attacking the international students, India Today said in a report.

“An incident of violence took place at Gujarat University in Ahmedabad yesterday. State government is taking strict action against the perpetrators. Two foreign students were injured in the clash. One of them has been discharged from hospital after receiving medical attention. MEA is in touch with the Gujarat government,” the MEA said in a post on social media site X.

Police are probing a purported attack on a group of foreign students at Gujarat University who have alleged that they were assaulted by a mob while offering Ramzan prayers at their hostel.

Ahmedabad Commissioner of Police GS Malik told news agency ANI that on Saturday night 10:30pm a group of students were offering Namaz and around 20-25 people came and asked them why they were offering Namaz inside the hostel and told them to read Namaz in the mosque.

“Yesterday, at around 10:30 pm a group of students were offering Namaz. Around 20-25 people came and asked them why they were offering Namaz here and should instead read it in the Masjid,” Malik was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Malik said that an argument broke out between both parties after which the people who came from outside pelted stones and vandalised their rooms. “An argument broke out between them, stones were pelted and their rooms were vandalised by the people who came from outside,” he said.

The incident has triggered a big debate on social media amid claims and counterclaims. While there are allegations that a group of outsiders harassed five international students offering the voluntary Tarawih prayer during Ramzan, another section of social media claims one of the students escalated the tensions after hitting a person who was enquiring why they were offering namaz in the hostel.

Both sides shared videos to back their claims. News18 couldn’t independently verify the videos. Social media users said that Afghan, Uzbek and African students were also attacked.

Meanwhile, police said that an FIR was registered against the 20-25 people and the law and order situation is under control. “Around 300 foreign students study in Gujarat University and around 75 foreign students stay in A Block (hostel). Two students from Sri Lanka and Tajikistan are admitted to the hospital,” Ahmedabad Commissioner of Police GS Malik said.

“Police took swift action and action will be taken against those involved in this. One person has been identified. FIR has been registered against 20-25 people. Law and order situation is under control now,” he further added.