Foreign students at Gujarat University in India were attacked by a Hindu far-right mob while offering prayers during Ramadan, reports local media. The incident left at least four students injured.
The attack occurred at the university hostel in Ahmedabad, where a group of about 15 students had gathered for the Ramadan tarawih prayer. As there is no mosque on the campus, they conducted their prayers in the hostel premises. However, they were confronted by a small group shouting “Jai Shri Ram” (Hail Lord Ram), objecting to their prayers.
The situation escalated when a larger mob, armed with sticks and knives, stormed the hostel, shouting religious slogans and vandalizing property. Videos circulating online showed the extent of the damage, with dorm rooms ransacked and students’ belongings destroyed.
According to eyewitness accounts, the attackers not only targeted the students during their prayers but also continued their assault inside the hostel rooms, damaging laptops, phones, bikes, and even the air conditioning and sound systems.
The victims, hailing from Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and various African countries, expressed shock and fear, with one student capturing the chaos in a video, pleading for help and expressing disbelief at the violence they faced.
Authorities have responded to the incident, with the police launching an investigation and making several arrests. The Ministry of External Affairs has promised strict action against the perpetrators, while a member of parliament has called for intervention from top government officials.
This attack is part of a broader trend of Hindu far-right groups targeting Muslim practices in public spaces, reflecting rising tensions in the country. The university’s vice-chancellor emphasized the need for cultural sensitivity training for international students and pledged to enhance their security measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
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