AHMEDABAD: Students hailing from different foreign countries were assaulted allegedly by a group of around 200 men in the Gujarat University hostel in Ahmedabad for offering namaz in the hostel premises during the holy month of Ramzan.
Two students – one from Sri Lanka and another from Tajikistan – were hospitalised after the incident which took place on Saturday night.
Situation was tense at the GU hostel campus after videos of assault on foreign students were widely shared on social media. According to foreign students and videos of the incident, a large mob shouted religious slogans during the attack. However, police did not disclose their identity and if they were affiliated with any group.
An FIR was registered against 20-25 people and nine teams of security personnel were formed to conduct a probe into the incident, Ahmedabad city Police Commissioner GS Malik said.
“The incident was reported at around 10.50 pm on Saturday when nearly two dozen people barged into the A block of Gujarat University’s boys’ hostel and raised an objection to students from Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and other countries offering namaz in the facility where they stayed,” Malik said.
There are around 300 international students enrolled at the Gujarat University, including from Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka and African countries. Nearly 75 of them were staying in the A block where the incident took place, he said.
“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, assaulting them and hurling stones,” Malik said.
The police responded within minutes after a call was made to the control room at 10.51 pm. A police van reached the spot and action was taken, he said.
Malik said that one accused was identified and the rest of them will also be identified and arrested.
Nine teams have been formed, including four from the crime branch and five from local police under DCP, to conduct a probe into the case, he said, adding the case will be monitored by the joint commissioner of police (crime).
A foreign student said on the condition of anonymity that when they were offering namaz on a raised platform built inside the hostel premises near the entry gate on Saturday night, some people came and objected over offering namaz.
“We told them that we offer namaz at the same place every year. After which 15 people came and there was a scuffle between us. Later, a mob of around 200 to 250 chanting slogans of Jai Shree Ram rushed to the hostel, attacked us. When some students locked themselves into their rooms, they broke the room doors on the first, second and third floor and ransacked all rooms while attacking foreign students,” he said.
Dr Neerja Gupta, vice chancellor the Gujarat University, said before reporters that the varsity has taken up the issue at urgency and the state government has also taken cognizance of it.
“Students were offering namaz inside the hostel boundary and the scuffle took place after a petty dispute between two groups. An FIR was filed late on Saturday night. Government has taken cognizance of it and the police have also taken swift action in it. We will also take some stern administrative decisions in the case,” said Gupta.
On those attackers belonging to the Gujarat University, she said that a police investigation is on to identify them.
Two students – one from Sri Lanka and another from Tajikistan – were hospitalised after the incident which took place on Saturday night.
Situation was tense at the GU hostel campus after videos of assault on foreign students were widely shared on social media. According to foreign students and videos of the incident, a large mob shouted religious slogans during the attack. However, police did not disclose their identity and if they were affiliated with any group.
An FIR was registered against 20-25 people and nine teams of security personnel were formed to conduct a probe into the incident, Ahmedabad city Police Commissioner GS Malik said.
“The incident was reported at around 10.50 pm on Saturday when nearly two dozen people barged into the A block of Gujarat University’s boys’ hostel and raised an objection to students from Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and other countries offering namaz in the facility where they stayed,” Malik said.
There are around 300 international students enrolled at the Gujarat University, including from Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka and African countries. Nearly 75 of them were staying in the A block where the incident took place, he said.
“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, assaulting them and hurling stones,” Malik said.
The police responded within minutes after a call was made to the control room at 10.51 pm. A police van reached the spot and action was taken, he said.
Malik said that one accused was identified and the rest of them will also be identified and arrested.
Nine teams have been formed, including four from the crime branch and five from local police under DCP, to conduct a probe into the case, he said, adding the case will be monitored by the joint commissioner of police (crime).
A foreign student said on the condition of anonymity that when they were offering namaz on a raised platform built inside the hostel premises near the entry gate on Saturday night, some people came and objected over offering namaz.
“We told them that we offer namaz at the same place every year. After which 15 people came and there was a scuffle between us. Later, a mob of around 200 to 250 chanting slogans of Jai Shree Ram rushed to the hostel, attacked us. When some students locked themselves into their rooms, they broke the room doors on the first, second and third floor and ransacked all rooms while attacking foreign students,” he said.
Dr Neerja Gupta, vice chancellor the Gujarat University, said before reporters that the varsity has taken up the issue at urgency and the state government has also taken cognizance of it.
“Students were offering namaz inside the hostel boundary and the scuffle took place after a petty dispute between two groups. An FIR was filed late on Saturday night. Government has taken cognizance of it and the police have also taken swift action in it. We will also take some stern administrative decisions in the case,” said Gupta.
On those attackers belonging to the Gujarat University, she said that a police investigation is on to identify them.
