Tajik student injured in India amid religious intolerance

On March 16, 2024, an attack on Muslim students occurred at the Gujarat University campus in India. Two students – one from Sri Lanka and the other from Tajikistan – were hospitalized after the incident.

The Ahmedabad Crime Branch arrested two individuals on Sunday, accused of beating and assaulting several foreign students in the Gujarat University dormitory during the night prayer. Five Muslim students from Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, South Africa, and Sri Lanka were performing the prayer. After the incident, two students – one from Sri Lanka and the other from Tajikistan – were hospitalized.

Late Saturday evening, five foreign students studying at Gujarat University were attacked on campus while they were performing prayers in the building where they were staying. A group of nearly two dozen people reportedly stormed the premises and shouted religious slogans, leading to a confrontation between the two groups.

According to Police Commissioner Mr. Malik: “About 20-25 people entered the dormitory and objected to the foreign students performing prayers there, asking them to do so in the mosque. They argued about this, assaulted them, threw stones, and vandalized their rooms.” Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs also addressed the issue, stating that the Gujarat government is taking strict action against those responsible for the violence, and MEA representative Randhir Jaiswal made a statement regarding the incident.

It was further reported that one of the two foreign students injured in the violence has been discharged from the hospital.