International students hailing from different countries like South Africa, Uzbekistan, Syria, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan were attacked by a Hindu extremist mob when they were offering namaz inside their hostel room at Gujarat University in Ahmedabad on the night of 16th March. The fierce mob wearing saffron scarves and chanting ‘Jai Shree Ram’ reportedly entered the premises of Block A hostel and assaulted the students by pelting stones at them. The mob also wrecked their hostel rooms and belongings including their laptops, mobile phones, and vehicles. At least five students sustained injury as a result of this appalling incident and were admitted to the SVP Hospital in Ahmedabad (Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Institute of Medical Sciences and Research).
Table of Contents
The victims claimed that they gathered together to offer ‘taraweeh’ (a night prayer performed during Ramadan) as there was no mosque inside the University campus. Soon after three students from Block B hostel came to prevent them from offering Namaz anywhere at the hostel premises who were then joined by 15 others and gradually the number increased to around 200 in no time. The goons allegedly carried sticks, knives and stones with them. The security guard tried to stop them from entering but in vain.
Police Investigation going on
According to the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Gyanendra Singh Mallik, the Ahmedabad Police had arrived at the spot immediately after they were informed and took control of the situation. Nine teams have been formed to carry out the investigation of the incident. The local security official filed a complaint against 20- 25 people based on which the police registered an FIR for rioting and has been able to identify one of the accused so far.
State Home Minister’s response to the incident
The Home Minister of the state, Harsh Sanghavi summoned the senior police officials including Vikas Sahay, the DGP (Director General of Police) of Gujarat Police, G.S. Malik, the ACP of Gujarat Police and Ajay Choudhary, the JCP(Joint Police Commissioner) of the crime branch ordering them to look into the matter and arrest those accused as soon as possible.
What the students have to say
A student from Afghanistan said that the five students who were injured were from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan and South Africa. They are now in hospital and have informed the embassies. Two or three of them are severely injured and are under treatment. The student also said that the goons fled away immediately after the police reached. As videos of the mob attack surface on the internet international students are heard saying that they are “scared” and that “this is unacceptable”. They also added that they “are not safe”.
Reaction of the Congress
Congress MLA Imran Khedawala and former MLA Gyasuddin Sheikh were among the first to visit the spot and rush the students to the hospital. Khedawala said that he phoned the local police inspector and the DCP to enquire about the incident. He also slammed this incident to be shameful for both the state and the country.
Reaction of AIMIM
Taking it to X (formerly Twitter), Hyderabad AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi called the incident “shameful” and criticized the Central government severely by blaming PM Modi and Amit Shah of “mass radicalization” and asking them if they would intervene in this matter with any strong message. Addressing the Minister of External Affairs Owaisi also said that Islamophobia in India is destroying the goodwill of the country.
