Five individuals have been arrested by Indian police following an assault on international students during Ramadan prayers at a university hostel.
The incident, which occurred at Gujarat University in western India, stemmed from a disagreement over where the prayers should take place, resulting in a physical altercation.
According to officials, the altercation led to injuries to five students, who were subsequently treated.
The Indian foreign ministry stated that the Gujarat government was taking decisive action against those responsible for the attack.
Police Commissioner GS Malik explained that a group of around twenty individuals entered the hostel, objected to the students’ prayers, and demanded they pray in a mosque instead.
This led to a heated argument, physical assault, stone-throwing, and vandalism of the students’ rooms.
The arrested individuals are named as Hitesh Mewada, Bharat Patel, Shitij Pandey, Jitendra Patel, and Sunil Dudhirua.
Police are investigating the incident and have not ruled out the possibility of further arrests.
Videos shared online showed a mob chanting Hindu religious slogans while attacking the students and damaging property.
Three injured students have been discharged from the hospital, while two remain in stable condition.
Navid Siddique, an Afghan student injured in the attack, recounted that a dispute arose during Taraweeh prayers, leading to a violent escalation with the arrival of a larger mob armed with stones and iron pipes.
Concerns about the safety of foreign students in India have been raised, with reports indicating that about 300 foreign students, mainly from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and African countries, are studying at Gujarat University.
The injured students were reportedly on scholarships from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
University officials have acknowledged tensions between foreign students and attackers, with plans to relocate the students to more secure and better-equipped hostels.
Dr. Neerja A Gupta, the vice-chancellor, emphasized that prayers were not the primary issue but rather a trigger for existing tensions.
The incident reflects broader concerns about religious tensions in India, with previous instances of interruptions and protests during Muslim prayers in public places.
Source-BBC
