At least six people, including four Indian students, were injured on February 7 in a stabbing attack at a university in Russia’s Bashkortostan Republic, media reports and the Indian mission in Moscow said.
The All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking urgent intervention to ensure the safety and protection of Indian medical students studying in Russia following the attack at Bashkir State Medical University.
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, AIMSA expressed deep concern and anguish over the incident, stating that such attacks not only endanger the lives and dignity of Indian students but also create an atmosphere of fear and insecurity among thousands of medical students pursuing education abroad.
The letter, signed by National President Dr Jitendra Singh and National Representative Mohammad Momin Khan, said Indian students travel overseas with aspirations of becoming healthcare professionals and serving humanity, and any form of violence, discrimination, or hostility against them is unacceptable.
AIMSA urged the Government of India to take immediate diplomatic steps with the concerned authorities in Russia to ensure justice for the affected students. The association also called for strengthening safety mechanisms and student support systems for Indian students studying abroad.
The letter further appealed for the issuance of clear advisories and the establishment of emergency helplines for Indian students facing threats or discrimination in foreign countries. It also sought stricter monitoring and coordination with foreign universities and governments to prevent recurrence of such incidents in the future.
Reiterating its faith in the leadership of the Prime Minister, AIMSA said safeguarding Indian citizens across the globe must remain a top priority. The association said it stands in solidarity with the affected students and their families and urged timely intervention to prevent similar incidents.
The appeal has drawn attention to growing concerns over the safety of Indian students pursuing medical education in foreign countries, particularly in the wake of repeated reports of violence and harassment.
According to 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.
“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.com webportal.
