Main Accused in Bareilly Cafe Attack Surrenders to Court
Rishabh Thakur, identified as a key accused in the December vigilante attack on a Bareilly cafe, surrendered before a local court on Saturday. The court immediately sent him to judicial custody following his surrender.
Police Action and Criminal Background
Bareilly Police had obtained a non-bailable warrant against Thakur earlier. Officers pasted the court order at his residence to pressure him to appear. Circle Officer Ashutosh Shivam confirmed the surrender and subsequent custody.
Police records show Rishabh Thakur faces three criminal cases at the Subhash Nagar police station. These include:
- A theft and assault case from 2022
- An attempt-to-murder case from 2024
- An ongoing extortion case
Authorities had previously invoked the stringent Uttar Pradesh Goonda Act against Thakur, highlighting his alleged criminal history.
Details of the December Cafe Attack
The incident occurred on December 27 last year when approximately two dozen vigilantes stormed a Bareilly cafe. A nursing student was celebrating her birthday at the venue at the time.
The attackers assaulted those present at the party. Videos of the violent incident quickly spread across social media platforms, drawing widespread attention.
Police investigation revealed the attack stemmed from objections to the presence of two Muslim youths at the birthday celebration. This religious dimension added significant controversy to the case.
Previous Arrests and Victim Impact
Before Thakur's surrender, police had already arrested five individuals connected to the attack:
- Ashish alias Paras Johri
- Mridul alias Manish Dubey
- Akash
- Deepak
- Prince Singh
These arrests followed identification during the police probe into the cafe incident.
The 22-year-old nursing student victim expressed deep distress following the attack. She told reporters she felt too afraid to leave her house afterward.
"I feel deeply ashamed that my friends were harassed and assaulted," she said. "Do I now need to choose my friends based on their religion?"
Accused's Personal Circumstances
Rishabh Thakur, aged 24, resides in a rented house in Bareilly. Police confirm he is currently unemployed. His father supports the family through informal, small-scale jobs.
The surrender comes weeks after the vigilante attack that shocked the Bareilly community. Local authorities continue their investigation into all aspects of the case.
