A young woman in Bareilly is grappling with fear and a shattered reputation after her birthday celebration was violently disrupted by a group of vigilantes, an incident that has forced her to question the very fabric of her social life in India. The assailants, allegedly triggered by the presence of her two Muslim friends, stormed the cafe, assaulted her classmates, and hurled accusations of 'love jihad,' leaving the 22-year-old nursing student traumatized and confined to her home.
The Assault That Shattered a Celebration
The incident occurred on December 27 at a cafe in Bareilly. The woman, a final-year nursing student hailing from Badaun district, had organized a birthday party with her classmates. Twelve of her 40 invited classmates attended, including two Muslim youths named Shaan and Waqaib. As she was cutting her cake around 12:30 PM, nearly two dozen vigilantes barged in, raising slogans.
"They immediately targeted Waqib and Shaan as soon as they entered the room," the woman recounted, suggesting the attack was planned. The assailants began assaulting the two Muslim youths and started misbehaving with others, including the birthday girl herself, while questioning them about their religion. "They started assaulting my classmates... some of them began misbehaving with others, including me," she claimed. The attackers also attempted to snatch her mobile phone.
Despite pleas from the students, the violence continued even after they were pushed out of the hall. Waqib and Shaan suffered serious injuries in the beating. In a baffling turn, police initially detained the two assaulted youths and the cafe owner, Shailendra Gangwar, under provisions for breach of peace. All three were later released on bail.
A Life Confined by Fear and Judgment
The aftermath of the attack has been devastating for the young woman. "I have confined myself to the house and not stepped out… because of fear," she said. The incident has not only instilled terror but has also tarnished her image on a national scale, pushing her into depression. She has left her institute's hostel and has not returned to her studies, currently staying at her aunt's house in Bareilly.
Her anguish is compounded by the unjust scrutiny of her personal choices. "I cannot understand who gave these assailants the authority to judge people and decide who I should be friends with," she stated emphatically. She highlighted that her parents, aware of her diverse social circle, have never objected to her friendships. "If they have no objection, then who are these people to try to 'guide' me?" she questioned, adding that neither her upbringing nor her nursing profession teaches her to differentiate people based on religion.
The central, haunting question she now poses to society is: "Do I now need to choose my friends based on their religion?"
Police Action and Denials
Following the outrage, police have arrested five people in connection with the incident. However, officials noted that the key accused, Rishabh Thakur and Deepak Pathak, remain at large. While allegations surfaced that the two have links with the Bajrang Dal, the organization's Bareilly coordinator, Aryan Chaudhary, denied any association.
The case has spotlighted the disturbing trend of self-appointed moral policing and violence in the name of policing interfaith interactions. The woman's poignant question challenges the very foundations of pluralistic friendship and personal freedom in contemporary India, as she struggles to reclaim her life from the grip of fear and prejudice.
