A team led by Afghanistan’s Consul General in Mumbai, Zakia Wardak, visited Gujarat University on Friday and met with its vice-chancellor to discuss safety measures following an attack on international students last week.
On the night of March 16, over two dozen individuals stormed into the government-run university’s dormitory and attacked international students for performing namaz at one of the rooms during the ongoing month of Ramzan. According to authorities, two people from Sri Lanka and Tajikistan were hospitalised following the incident.
Vice-Chancellor on the initiation of the institution
Vice-Chancellor Dr Neerja Gupta told reporters that the team was pleased with the efforts taken by university administration to ensure student safety following the event.
“There was a courtesy meeting following the event. We informed them that the institution had taken many efforts to protect the students. The delegation was pleased with the actions we implemented,” Gupta stated.
Before visiting the vice chancellor, Consul General Wardak met with her country’s students to assess the current situation. Notably, international students were sent to a new dorm following the event.
“We met the Vice Chancellor and our pupils. They (students) assured me everything was alright. There’s nothing to worry about. My pupils have been studying here for five years, and they are treated like brothers and sisters by everyone. “So, we don’t have any larger concerns,” Wardak told reporters.
The Indian government is quite welcoming, and Afghan students have been studying here for the past 20-25 years with no problems.
“All Indians are our brothers and sisters, and we don’t need to make this into a political issue. We have no major problems at all. I assured my kids that everything was alright since the Indian government was also looking after their safety. “I told my students this is their second home,” she said.
Creation of foreign student advisory group
Following the incident, the institution relocated international students to a new wing and hired ex-servicemen to increase security. In addition, a foreign student advisory group has been created, and ex-Army troops have been sent to strengthen the hostel’s security.
Earlier, on March 19, a Gambian team paid a visit to the Gujarat University campus and spoke with Gupta about the same subject.
Five people have been detained in connection with the event, which began with the filing of a FIR against a crowd under Indian Penal Code (IPC) provisions for rioting, illegal assembly, voluntarily inflicting harm, property destruction, and criminal trespass, among others.
