Greater Noida’s Sharda University on Thursday suspended seven security guards who allegedly dragged a Kenyan student out of the campus as they thought he had entered with a pack of cigarettes, The Times of India reported. Students had posted a video of the alleged incident on social media on March 28.

University Registrar Amal Kumar said the alleged assault was “an unpleasant incident”. “The student was entering the campus with a packet of cigarettes,” Kumar told The Times of India. “The guards at gate number 4 stopped him. He lost his cool and things went out of control. The guards tried to hold him and this created the scene.” Kumar said the institute was concerned about all students, “irrespective of their nationalities”.

The first-year undergraduate student of business administration reportedly told an association of African students that the guards treated him like “a suspect” every time he left the campus although he carried his ID card. He denied entering the campus with cigarettes, according to Dainik Bhaskar.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, the Association of African Students in India urged the university to “take strict actions against those involved, and also to create an environment that respects international students”.

The Noida Police are investigating the matter, ABP News reported.