Ahmedabad, India – Foreign students at Gujarat University in Ahmedabad faced a harrowing ordeal during their evening Ramadan prayers when they were attacked by unidentified assailants. The assailants not only assaulted the students but also vandalized hostel rooms, threw stones, and shouted slogans, sparking chaos within the Block A hostel premises.
According to some students, the attackers, believed to be from the Block B hostel, prohibited them from conducting their Ramadan prayers within the hostel area. The violent incident resulted in several students sustaining injuries, leading to their admission to SVP Hospital in Ahmedabad, where they are currently in stable condition.
Ahmedabad Police swiftly responded to the distressing situation and have initiated legal action against the perpetrators. Police officials confirmed that foreign students within the Gujarat University campus were targeted and subjected to robbery by the unidentified assailants, resulting in injuries and property damage.
Police Commissioner G.S. Malik disclosed that approximately 25 individuals instigated the disruption during prayer time. The confrontation emerged when the group demanded that the students cease their prayers at around 10:30 pm, ultimately escalating into chaos and destruction.
A special nine-team unit has been assembled to investigate the incident and identify those responsible. It was revealed that two of the injured students hail from Tajikistan and Sri Lanka, prompting Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi to authorize stringent measures and file rioting charges against 25 unknown individuals at the Gujarat University Police Station.
Gujarat University hosts a diverse student body, with enrollees from various countries including Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Syria, and multiple African nations. Disturbing footage capturing the violent episode featuring stone-throwing and chanting aggressors has circulated.
In response to the distressing assault, a foreign student expressed dismay over the hostility and urged the government to reconsider visa issuance policies in light of such incidents. The altercation reportedly led to the destruction of personal items such as laptops, music systems, air conditioners, wardrobes, and tables.
Prominent figures including AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and NSUI national president Varun Chaudhary have denounced the attack and called for intervention from government officials to address the situation. Owaisi criticized top leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, questioning their stance on the issue of rising anti-Muslim sentiment in Gujarat.