Mob attack in Kyrgyzstan: Indian students advised to stay indoors
What's the story
The Indian embassy in Kyrgyzstan has issued a safety advisory to its nationals, urging them to stay indoors amid reports of large-scale mob violence targeting foreign students in Bishkek, the capital city.
The embassy stated, "We are in touch with our students. The situation is presently calm, but students are advised to stay indoors for the moment and get in touch with the Embassy in case of any issue."
Violence erupts
Pakistani students in Bishkek face mob violence
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar confirmed he is monitoring the welfare of Indian students, advising them to maintain regular contact with the Embassy.
Several Pakistani students studying in Bishkek also encountered mob violence late Friday, resulting in injuries. No deaths have been confirmed from these incidents.
Pakistan's Ambassador Hasan Zaigham advised students to remain indoors and assured cooperation with local authorities for their safety.
The violence reportedly erupted following a brawl between foreign students, including Pakistanis, and Egyptian nationals.
Twitter Post
Visuals of the alleged attack on foreign students
Pakistani embassy in Kyrgyzstan Shame on you. Pakistani students are getting murdered and they are doing nothing.#Kyrgyzstan #ImranKhan pic.twitter.com/UFgvvB4SXn
— Bilal Khan (@bilal_khan126) May 17, 2024
Viral trigger
Violence reportedly intensified after viral video
The violence reportedly escalated after videos of a fight between Kyrgyz and Egyptian students on May 13 went viral online.
The mob targeted hostels of medical universities in Bishkek, where students from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh reside.
Despite social media posts about alleged deaths and rapes of Pakistani students, no confirmed reports have been received.
Kyrgyzstan is a popular destination for education, especially in the medical field, attracting a large number of students from the Indian subcontinent.