At least five foreign students were injured after a mob stormed their Gujarat University hostel on Saturday night and attacked them allegedly for offering namaz. The students were reportedly from African countries, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.
Following the incident, the Gujarat government has ordered an investigation and directed the state police to arrest the accused as soon as possible.
According to reports, the foreign students had gathered inside the hostel to offer taraweeh, a namaz offered at night during the holy month of Ramadan.
While they were offering taraweeh, a mob carrying knives and sticks entered the hostel and attacked them. The mob also allegedly vandalised their rooms.
“Around 300 foreign students study in Gujarat University, and 75 foreign students stay in A Block (Hostel). Yesterday, around 10:30pm, a group of students were offering namaz. Around 20-25 people came and asked them why they were offering namaz here and should read it in the masjid. An argument broke out between them, stones were pelted, and their rooms were vandalised by the people who came from outside…,” Ahmedabad Commissioner of Police GS Malik told reporters.
Malik further said that the police acted swiftly and registered a case against some 25 people.
One accused has been identified while the hunt for the remaining is on. The official promised strict action against the accused.
Meanwhile, two students from Sri Lanka and Tajikistan have been admitted to the SVP hospital for treatment.