Rajkot: A near miss between a Liberian student on a bike and a local car driver escalated into a physical altercation on the outskirts of Rajkot on Saturday.

The incident occurred in Gauridad village when Jefferson, a Marwadi University student, nearly collided with a car driven by Ravi. After a heated argument, Ravi struck Jefferson with a stick and fled the scene, leaving his car behind. Subsequently, several students from the university and around 25 villagers gathered at the spot, with the villagers accusing the students of writing derogatory words on the car’s windshield. The students denied the claim, presenting video evidence showing a local man defacing the car, prompting the police to search for the individual.

This altercation is linked to longstanding tensions between Gauridad villagers and African students, stemming from a three-year-old dispute over rental housing. Although the African students filed a complaint with the police, no FIR was registered, as they chose not to escalate the matter in an effort to maintain peace. The police have recorded statements from both parties and continue to investigate the incident.

Naresh Jadeja, registrar of Marwadi University, confirmed the incident and stated that while it involved a verbal dispute, no injuries occurred. He assured that the university stands by its students, emphasizing that they were not at fault. DeshGujarat