A private birthday celebration at a popular cafe in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly turned into a scene of violence and intimidation, leading to a severe business crisis for the establishment. The cafe owner has reported that his livelihood has nearly collapsed following the incident.
Mob Storms Private Party, Assaults Guests
The disturbing event unfolded on Saturday evening at the Bareilly Cafe. A 20-year-old first-year nursing student, a resident of Budaun district staying in a Bareilly hostel, was celebrating her birthday with a small group of friends. According to police and victim accounts, around 25 men, including a self-proclaimed cow vigilante, forcibly entered the cafe without permission.
The group allegedly objected to the presence of two Muslim students at the gathering. They then launched an attack on some of the male guests, raising slogans that falsely accused those present of involvement in "love jihad". Videos of the assault, which have been widely circulated on social media, show men beating individuals inside the cafe while slogans are heard in the background.
"They gate-crashed our private party and started beating my friends," the nursing student told the media. She firmly denied the allegations, stating they were "completely baseless." One of the guests reportedly sustained fractures during the violent attack.
Business Grinds to a Halt, Police Action Criticized
The aftermath has been devastating for the cafe's owner, Shailendra Gangwar. He revealed that his business has virtually come to a standstill since the incident. "Since that incident, I have had no business. People are afraid to come to my cafe," Gangwar said, highlighting the severe financial losses and reputational damage he is now facing.
Initial police action drew significant criticism from the public. Officers had fined the two Muslim students and a cafe staff member for an alleged "breach of peace." This move was widely condemned on social media platforms as victim-blaming.
FIR Registered After Public Outrage
Following the online outrage, the police took stronger action. Bareilly City Superintendent of Police, Manush Pareek, confirmed that officers had identified several individuals seen attacking people in the cafe videos. A formal First Information Report (FIR) has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The charges included in the FIR are:
- House trespass
- Voluntarily causing hurt
- Criminal intimidation
- Rioting
This case underscores the growing concerns over vigilante actions disrupting private lives and businesses in the region, based on unfounded allegations. The cafe owner's plight highlights the broader economic impact such incidents can have on small businesses.
