Students attacked during Ramadan prayers in India

Police in India have detained two people after a group of international students were attacked during Ramadan prayers at a Gujarat University hostel.

At least four students were injured on Saturday night when a Hindu group allegedly stormed the hostel during taraweeh prayers.

The students were from Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and several African countries.

Many of those injured in the attack were taken to hospital.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs said it would take “strict actions against the perpetrators”.

On Sunday, two people were arrested in connection with the attack. They were identified as Hitesh Mewada and Bharat Patel.

GS Malik, the police commissioner of Ahmedabad city, said about two dozen people entered the hostel and objected to the students offering prayers, urging them to pray in a mosque.

There is no mosque on the university campus.

“They argued over the issue, assaulting them and hurling stones,” Mr Malik said. “They also vandalised their rooms.”

Navid Siddique, a student from Afghanistan, was injured in the attack. He told The Times of India that the attackers returned with stones and iron pipes after an argument.

“They went on a rampage in the hostel, assaulting students in their rooms and damaging property and vehicles,” Mr Siddique said.

Dr Neerja Gupta, vice chancellor of the university, denied the incident was due to prayers and said tensions had been rising between the students and the attackers for some time.

The international students are set to be moved to a different hostel with increased security.