Four Indian students were among six people injured in a stabbing attack at a university in Russia's Bashkortostan Republic on Saturday.
The preliminary probe reveals that a teenager armed with a knife entered a dormitory of the State Medical University in Ufa, stabbing several students, among whom four are Indian. Even when the Police tried to arrest the accused, he stabbed two officers, too.
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 has been identified as a 15-year-old youth, who has also been admitted to a local children's hospital in serious condition, as per the local reports. No official statement has been issued on this yet.
“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 local media.
As per the local media reports, the attacker belonged to a banned neo-Nazi outfit. "He belonged to the banned NS/WP neoNazi organisation. During the frenzy of attack, he was shouting nationalist slogans about the Holocaust,” it said.
Indian Embassy’s statement —
The Indian Embassy called it an "unfortunate incident" and said, "Several persons, including four Indian students, have been injured."
The Embassy says it is in touch with the authorities, and officials from the Consulate in Kazan are en route to Ufa to help the injured students.
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.
AIMSA writes to PM Modi —
All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, appealing for the safety and protection of Indian Medical Students in Russia.
The letter reads —
"On behalf of the All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA), we write with deep concern and anguish regarding 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... We humbly request the Government of India to take immediate diplomatic steps with the concerned authorities to ensure justice for the attacked students, strengthen safety mechanisms and student support systems for Indian students studying abroad..."
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