Police in India have apprehended five individuals for assaulting some overseas students in a college dormitory while they were engaged in Ramadan prayers.
Reports indicate that there was a significant altercation at Gujarat University in western India regarding the place for the prayer.
Authorities revealed that five students required medical attention due to the confrontation.
The foreign ministry of India confirmed the incident and mentioned that the Gujarat government is implementing strict measures against the perpetrators.
The police commissioner of Ahmedabad city stated that a group of about 24 individuals entered the dormitory and objected to the students' prayers, instructing them to do so in a mosque.
According to the police commissioner, the group physically attacked the students and damaged their rooms, prompting an investigation by a dedicated team.
A senior police official disclosed the names of the five arrested men and mentioned that they have not made any public statements while in custody.
He also mentioned the possibility of more arrests in the near future.
However, the police have not confirmed any connections to political or religious organizations for the arrested individuals.
Police have not confirmed whether the arrested men have ties to any political or religious groups.
BBC Gujarati reporters observed damaged property at the scene of the incident.
Videos circulating online depicted a group chanting Hindu religious slogans while attacking the students and causing destruction.
Three of the injured students have been discharged from the hospital, while two others are in stable condition.
One of the injured students from Afghanistan stated that he and his peers were carrying out a special nightly prayer during Ramadan when they were confronted and then attacked by a group of people.
The student claimed that the situation escalated, leading to a larger group of individuals attacking them with weapons and causing severe damage.
Another Afghan student expressed concerns about the safety of foreign students in the area, citing previous similar incidents.
Approximately 300 foreign students, primarily from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and African countries, are enrolled at the university.
According to reports, the injured students were in India on scholarships from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, which is supported by the federal government.
The vice-chancellor of Gujarat University stated that there had been tensions between the international students and the attackers for some time, indicating that the prayers were not the main issue.
This official indicated that the main issue was not the prayers, and plans are in place to relocate the international students to more secure accommodations.
The university disclosed plans to move the affected students to new hostels with better security and facilities.
In the past, there have been conflicts over Muslims praying in public in India. In 2021, Muslim prayers in public spaces in Gurgaon were disrupted and protested by Hindu extremist groups.
A Delhi police officer was recently suspended after a video showed him kicking Muslim men who were praying on the side of the road.
