Last night, a horrifying incident unfolded at Gujarat University’s hostel, where a mob stormed the premises and viciously attacked international students from various countries including African nations, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Turkmenistan. The assailants allegedly targeted the students while they were offering taraweeh, a nightly Ramadan prayer, inside the hostel.
Despite the absence of a mosque on campus, the students had gathered inside the hostel for their religious observance. However, they were met with violence as the mob armed with sticks and knives stormed in, vandalizing rooms and inflicting injuries on the students. Disturbing visuals shared on social media depict the aftermath of the attack, showing damaged property and terrified students recounting the ordeal.
The accounts provided by the victims paint a harrowing picture of the brutality they endured, with reports of laptops, phones, and bikes being destroyed, and students being physically assaulted inside their rooms. Despite the efforts of the hostel security guard to intervene, the mob’s onslaught continued unchecked.
It is deeply concerning that such an appalling display of intolerance and violence could occur within an educational institution, which should serve as a bastion of diversity and inclusivity. The fact that the attack targeted individuals based on their faith is a stark reminder of the urgent need to address religious intolerance and xenophobia.
In the wake of this tragic incident, the response of authorities, including State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi’s directive to arrest the perpetrators and ensure a fair investigation, is imperative. Additionally, the condemnation of the attack by leaders such as Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi highlights the need for broader societal condemnation of such hate-fueled violence.
This incident serves as a wake-up call for the authorities to take proactive measures to protect the safety and rights of all individuals, regardless of their nationality or religious affiliation. It also underscores the importance of fostering a culture of respect, understanding, and tolerance within communities, to prevent such heinous acts from occurring in the future.
