Online Desk: The incident of five Muslim students from foreign countries reportedly being attacked by a Hindutva mob over offering Namaz (Tareeweh) at the hostel of Gujarat university in Ahmedabad on Saturday night, has sparked global outrage, after a video of the attack went viral on social media. Police have arrested two persons so far in connection with the incident.
The mob was allegedly armed with knives, stones and other weapons who barged into the hostel premises and attacked the students who were offering Taraweeh prayers—special Ramzan prayers— and vandalised the properties, vehicles and other belongings of the students In the incident several students got severely injured and were later admitted to the SVP hospital. A UK-based Indian author and professor Dr. Nitasha Kaul described the incident as “fascist hate on rise”.
“In below, on Gujarat univ campus, men act on religious-hate & seem secure in no punishment; appear to attack international students offering Ramzan prayers & shout Jai Shri Ram. Shared by a well-known fact checker in #India, need enquiry/action asap! Fascist hate on the rise!,” Kaul posted on X. A delegation of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) who met the victim students have alleged that the attacks were carried out in the presence of the police.
“The police did not take action as we demanded. The watchman was made the complainant in the case instead of the students who were attacked. The FIR was filed but the section of loot and theft was not invoked even though their money was stolen by the mob,” said a SDPI leader. While calling out Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for deteriorating law and order in his home state, Rajya Sabha MP and chairman of Congress minority department Imran Pratapgarhi called the act as shameful.
“If the law and order situation in the home state of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister is such that hate-filled goons are embarrassing India by attacking foreign students studying Taraweeh in Gujarat University, then what could be more shameful than this? Modi ji, why is the police not able to stop such goons in your family??,” posted Pratapgarhi on X.
AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi also said domestic anti-Muslim hatred is destroying India’s goodwill.
“What a shame. When your devotion & religious slogans only come out when Muslims peacefully practice their religion. Recently a cop was seen kicking the Muslim men who were offering Friday prayers on the road near the mosque. The incident took place in the Inderlok area of the National Capital, Delhi. The cop was later suspended after the video of the incident went viral on Social media.