2 arrested for attacking foreign students offering namaz inside Gujarat University

The accused in custody have been identified as Hitesh Mewada and Bharat Patel, reported India Today.

On Saturday, a group of men allegedly targeted foreign students while they were offering nighttime Ramadan prayers at their hostel roof inside the campus premises.

They demanded the students cease their prayers anywhere on the grounds.

The assailants vandalized hostel rooms, chanted slogans, and pelted stones at the foreign students, resulting in injuries to two of them.

The five injured students include one each from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Turkmenistan and two from African countries.

According to reports, the Gujarat Home Minister, Harsh Sanghavi, has spoken to Gujarat's senior police officials, directing them to immediately arrest the suspects and ensure a thorough investigation.

The Ministry of External Affairs has said it is in touch with the Gujarat government, assuring stringent measures will be taken against the attackers.

According to the police, they face multiple charges including unlawful assembly, armed assembly, rioting, forgery, causing harm, endangering life, criminal trespass, and other offenses, the report said.

According to the complaint, initially, three students attempted to intervene, but soon after, their number swelled to 15, and eventually, around 200 people joined in.

In response, the police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against 25 men for charges of rioting. Subsequently, nine investigative teams were deployed to track down the suspects.

According to an NDTV report, Ahmedabad city police commissioner GS Malik said they have started an investigation. "About 300 overseas students study here. They are from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and African countries. Some of them were offering namaz on the terrace yesterday. Some people came and asked why they were doing so and that they should offer namaz at a mosque. This led to a heated exchange and a fight. The outsiders then threw stones and vandalised the hostel rooms."

The senior officer said police rushed to the spot soon after they were informed over a phone call. "We have formed nine teams and investigate this. We have identified one person. A complaint has been received against 20-25 people and an FIR registered. We will scan the videos doing the rounds. We will take strict action against those involved," he said, adding that the situation is under control.

The Ministry of External Affairs has said the Gujarat government is taking strict action against those who attacked the international students. "An incidence 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 Gujarat government," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X.