- Monday, February 24, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
A DELEGATION from The Gambia on Tuesday (19) visited the campus of Gujarat University in Ahmedabad in the western Indian state of Gujarat and held a meeting with its vice chancellor over safety measures in the backdrop of an attack on foreign students allegedly on Saturday (16) for offering namaz in the institute’s hostel premises on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan.
Nearly 30 students from the West African country study at the state-run university in Ahmedabad.
Following the visit, the university’s vice chancellor, Neerja Gupta, told reporters that the foreign delegation, comprising officials from the Gambian high commission in New Delhi, expressed satisfaction over the steps taken by university authorities for the safety of students.
Read: Modi government firefights after foreign students attacked in Gujarat university over Ramadan prayer
“It was a follow-up meeting by the Gambian delegation following the incident. They wanted to meet us because nearly 30 students from Gambia study in this university. The delegation wanted to know if their students are safe,” said Gupta.
The delegation comprised a deputy high commissioner, a first secretary and a student representative, she said.
“The Gambian officials were made aware of the steps we have taken to ensure safety and security of students after the incident. During the meeting, they expressed satisfaction with our measures. They were also satisfied with the assurance we gave them about students’ safety,” Gupta said.
On March 16, around two dozen people barged into the university’s hostel and objected to students from foreign countries offering namaz at one of the blocks during Ramadan, according to the police.
Students hailing from different foreign countries were assaulted by the group and two of them — one each from Sri Lanka and Tajikistan — were hospitalised after the incident, they said.
A first-information report was registered against 20 to 25 unidentified persons under sections of the Indian Penal Code for rioting, unlawful assembly, voluntarily causing hurt, damage to property and criminal trespass, among others.
Five persons have so far been arrested in connection with the incident, police said on Monday (18).
The attack prompted the university to relocate foreign students to a new wing and engage ex-servicemen to bolster security.
The varsity authorities decided to shift international students to a separate hostel designated for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) within three days.
India’s ministry of external affairs reacted to the incident saying the government of Gujarat was taking strict action against the culprits.
(With PTI inputs)
