Sudanese Student Fatally Stabbed in Phagwara; Six Accused Nabbed in Himachal Within Hours

• May 15, 2025

Phagwara, Punjab – A 25-year-old Sudanese student was brutally stabbed to death and another critically injured in a violent altercation near a private university in Phagwara in the early hours of Thursday. The attack has sent shockwaves through the international student community, particularly among African students residing in the area.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gaurav Toora confirmed that a special Phagwara police team, led by SP Rupinder Kaur Bhatti and SP (Investigation), apprehended all six accused within five hours of the crime. The suspects were tracked down and arrested in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, thanks to swift action using CCTV surveillance and technical tracking.

The incident occurred around 4 a.m. in the Green Valley locality near Law Gate in Maheru village—a popular residential area for international students. According to an FIR filed at Satnampura Police Station and the statement of the injured student, Ahmed Mohammad Nour Ahmed Hussen, he and the deceased, Mohammad Wada Bala Yousuf Ahmed, were returning from morning prayers with two Sudanese female students when they were confronted by a group of Indian men.

The assailants, reportedly intoxicated, began harassing the female students and demanded their phone numbers. When the Sudanese students attempted to intervene, the situation escalated into violence. Two of the men allegedly pulled out knives and stabbed both Ahmed and Mohammad Wada in the chest.

The attackers fled the scene immediately after the assault. A local resident, Prabhat Dubey, who heard the victims’ cries for help, rushed them to Johal Hospital in Jalandhar Cantt. Tragically, Mohammad Wada was declared dead on arrival, while Ahmed remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Based on Ahmed's account, the police registered a case under Sections 109 (common intention), 103(1) (murder), 190 (voluntarily causing hurt), and 191(3) (attempt to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). From his hospital bed, Ahmed identified the six alleged attackers: Abdul Ahadh from Chikkamagaluru (Karnataka), and Kuwar Amar Partap Singh, Aditya Garg, Mohammed Shoib, Sushank alias “Shaggy,” and Yash Vardhan Rajput—all originally from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and residing in Phagwara as paying guests.

SSP Toora praised the investigation team for their swift response and coordination. “This was a heinous act. The moment we received the complaint, our teams were mobilized. Using CCTV footage, technical surveillance, and local intelligence, we traced the accused to Mandi and executed the arrests efficiently,” he said.

The incident has sparked fear and outrage among African students living in Phagwara. Many have raised concerns over safety, citing repeated instances of racial harassment and insecurity in off-campus residential areas. Students are now calling for increased police patrolling, enhanced surveillance, and stronger protective measures to ensure their safety and well-being.