Students of Afghanistan studying at the university haved termed the attack on their colleague a ‘hate crime’ and have sought police security, saying they do not feel safe in Goa anymore. According to them the attackers abused the victim asking why he had come to this country. A statement such as this can have international ramifications. The incident needs to be dealt with some maturity and the investigating officials must be given time to probe it. Goa cannot ignore the fact that a foreign national has been attacked. This calls for a thorough investigation so that there is complete clarity on what exactly transpired.
From the little that is known, of the incident, this is what happened: Matihulla Aria, a student of MCom at Goa University along with his compatriot was at ‘suicide point’ at Dona Paula where there was another group present. One of the Afghani nationals fell from a bike and the Indians went over to help, but there apparently was a verbal duel. They all left the place, but a few metres away, the men stopped the students who were on a Goa registered two-wheeler, stabbed Aria and fled. Aria is seriously wounded and undergoing treatment at the Intensive Care Unit of a private hospital. Three persons have been arrested.
From what is known, and since the student who was stabbed has not yet made his statement, the incident should be treated circumspectly. Goa University that has condemned the incident has urged that it be seen as a spontaneous act of crime, not linked to any other motive/perception. We endorse this at this particular point of time, until further investigations. There will be demands and protests over the stabbing, as there have been, but the law enforcement agencies should deal with this incident solely by the book. At the same time they should also act as quickly as possible to avoid any further speculation on the motive behind the stabbing. The truth is important. This incident has already made it to the national media, so Goa is currently under the scanner.
NSUI, the student arm of the Congress, has sought police protection in all colleges to prevent a ‘JNU or Jamia like situation in Goa University considering the unrest that has taken place following the attack’. As of now, there can be no comparison made between the violence at the Jawaharlal Nehru University and what occurred in Goa. This is a one off incident, and there is still no clarity on the motive behind it. A statement such as this can have political overtones and could lead to instigating unrest among students. Yes, security at the university, especially for the foreign nationals, requires to be beefed up in light of this attack, and all those involved in the stabbing need to be caught and made to face the law. On this there can be no compromise.
It is commendable that a delegation of the university’s foreign students have been briefed by the police on the measures being taken for their safety and security. But the students require to be assured that such a crime will not occur again. All international students in the State, from whatever country they may have come, have to be made to feel welcome and also safe. That is the duty of the police, the government, the university and the people of Goa. There can be no place for hate crimes in the State, and anybody indulging in them has to be dealt with severely. That is expected of the police in the State.
