4 Indian medical students stabbed at Russia's medical university
Moscow: In a shocking incident, at least four Indian medical students studying at the Bashkir State Medical University in Ufa in the Bashkortostan Republic suffered serious injuries after being stabbed by a teenager with a knife in their dormitory. While one of them is in serious condition, three others are in a moderate state.
Calling it an “unfortunate incident”, the Indian Embassy in Moscow said, “Several persons, including four Indian students, have been injured.” The Embassy said it is in touch with the authorities, and officials from the Consulate in Kazan are en route to Ufa to provide assistance to the injured students.
According to preliminary reports, a teenager armed with a knife entered a dormitory of the State Medical University in Ufa in the Bashkortostan Republic. He attacked the students living there and stabbed several of them, the Interior Ministry said as per a PTI news agency report.
According to a TOI news report, the accused belonged to the banned NS/WP neoNazi organisation. During the frenzy of the attack, he was shouting nationalist slogans about the Holocaust. Following the attack, the accused allegedly drew a Nazi symbol on a wall with the blood of the victims.
“The attacker resisted arrest, during which two police officers were stabbed. Furthermore, the suspect also inflicted bodily harm on himself,” Interior Ministry spokesperson Maj. General Irina Volk was quoted as saying by RTVI webportal.
In a release, the Russian Federal Health Ministry said that four people injured in the attack are receiving medical care. One is in serious condition, while three others are in moderate condition, it added.
The attacker, identified as a 15-year-old youth, has also been admitted to a local children’s hospital in serious condition, the Baza telegram channel said.
Authorities in Ufa, the capital of the Bashkortostan Republic, about 1,200 km east of Moscow, have launched a high-level probe into the incident.
According to eyewitnesses, “there was blood all around,” Ren TV said, showing footage of wounded being taken to the hospital by ambulance vans.
Deeply concerned about the safety of Indian students abroad following the tragic incident, the All India Medical Students’ Association (AIMSA) has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure safety and protection for Indian students in Russia.
The association expressed anguish over the recent violent attack on four Indian medical students at Bashkir State Medical University, Russia. "Such incidents not only endanger the lives and dignity of our students but also create an atmosphere of fear and insecurity among thousands of Indian medical students studying abroad," the association said.
The association said that Indian students go abroad with dreams of becoming healthcare professionals and serving humanity. Therefore, any act of violence, discrimination, or hostility against them is unacceptable and must be strongly condemned. AIMSA added that the safety and well-being of our students must remain a top priority.
The association urged the government to take immediate diplomatic steps with the concerned authorities to ensure justice for the attacked students. It also called for stronger safety measures and better student support systems for Indian students studying abroad. Further, it requested the government to issue clear advisories, set up emergency helplines for students facing threats or discrimination, and ensure strict monitoring and coordination with foreign universities and governments to prevent such incidents in the future.
"We trust in your leadership and unwavering commitment to safeguarding Indian citizens across the globe. AIMSA stands in solidarity with the affected students and their families and urges urgent intervention to prevent the recurrence of such tragic incidents," mentioned the letter.
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