Explained: Gujarat University Hostel Namaz Row

The recent scuffle involving international students in Gujarat University, triggered by a conflict over Ramadan prayers offered by the Muslim students in the hostel's compound, has garnered many eye-balls.

As per the reports, on the night of 16 March 2024, nearly five foreign students residing in the Ahmedabad-based varsity’s Hostel Block- A, which houses around 75 international students, were injured in attacks said to have been carried out by a mob comprising 25-30 students from the Hostel Block-B. Among those injured were two students- one from Turkmenistan and the other from Sri Lanka, who were hospitalised for injuries.

According to an India Today report, prior to the attacks on foreign students, a group of students is said to have initially confronted foreign Muslim students offering Namaz.

The opposing students are said to have asked those offering Ramadan prayers to do so in the nearest mosque and not in the open space outside the hostel premises.

In a turn of events, one of the students after finishing his Ramadan prayers is said to have attempted to slap those in the opposing group of students.

A few moments later, a large mob is said to have entered the hostel specifically in search of two Muslim students who are said to have confronted those from the opposing student group. After being unable to find them, the mob allegedly went on a rampage, vandalising hostel rooms along with the vehicles parked in the compound apart from attacking the foreign students present there.

As of now, Ahmedabad Police have reportedly arrested five individuals named Hitesh Mewada, Bharat Patel, Jitendra Patel, Kshitij Pandey and Sahil Dudhatiya - all residents of Ahmedabad and who are alleged to have been involved in the late-night brawl.

After Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi’s directions to conduct a fair probe, the city’s police commissioner GS Malik informed the press that they had formed special teams to nab those involved in the attack. He also informed that cases under relevant sections of the IPC pertaining to unlawful assembly, rioting, voluntarily causing hurt and criminal trespass had been registered.

The varsity on its part has replaced officials entrusted with the matters pertaining to foreign students and has moved the latter to a safer location in the hostel meant for NRI students.

“We will also be conducting cultural orientation programs for the foreign students. This is necessary more so as we have in the past received complaints from student groups regarding certain religious leaders visiting the hostel premises. We are of the belief that there should be no public display of religious activities,” said Gujarat University Vice-Chancellor Neerja Gupta to Indian Express.

A news clip shot by BBC Hindi also shows graffiti in Nastaliq script spray painted along the wall of a raised platform where the foreign Muslim students are said to have regularly offered their Ramadan prayers.

There are nearly 300 foreign students in the varsity studying on a scholarship funded by the Indian Council For Cultural Relations.

Interestingly, foreign media has been terming the issue as an attack by the ‘Hindu Right-Wing’ on students from the Muslim community. Many observers have criticised the coverage of the incident in foreign media, as it attempts to portray the issue as targeting Muslim students by Hindus even before the investigation is complete.

Given that it involves international students, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is in constant touch with the agencies investigating the incident.

“Two foreign students were injured in the clash. One of them has been discharged from hospital after receiving medical attention. Police are taking strict action against the perpetrators. MEA is in touch with the Gujarat government," said Randhir Jaiswal, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in a post on X.