Elliot and Yusuf were with a Kashmiri friend, a former student of the university, when the assailants barged into their second-floor rented accommodation. While the victims caught hold of one of the assailants, the other escaped but was arrested later.

Sources said the door to the house was open and the assailants walked in with pipe-guns demanding money and the mobile phones of the victims. Though the three gave in to the demands, a scuffle broke out when the two demanded more money. While Elliot was hit on the stomach, Yusuf was injured from the splinters. Their friend, however, escaped unhurt.

They managed to capture one of the assailants, identified as Anamul Sheikh, before calling the police. The other assailant, Saheb Sheikh, was caught later while trying to escape in a bus in Kutinagar.

The injured were admitted to the PR Sen Hospital and later shifted to the Durgapur Missionary Hospital where Yusuf was released after first-aid. The condition of Elliot, who was operated upon, is stable.

Birbhum Superintendent of Police LN Meena said: “The two intruders have been arrested and Amanul was produced in the local court today.”

Visva Bharati registrar M M Mitra said the Iranian embassy has been informed about the incident and the university would pay for the treatment of the two students.