A birthday celebration at a cafe in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, turned into a scene of violence and vandalism on Saturday, December 27, after a mob of nearly two dozen vigilantes barged in, assaulting guests and staff while levelling accusations of "love jihad." The incident, which has sparked outrage, was reportedly triggered by the presence of two Muslim youths at the party.
Violent Intrusion and Assault
According to the police and a complaint filed by cafe owner Shailendra Gangwar, the incident occurred around 2 pm. A group of friends, including a girl celebrating her birthday, were present at the premises. The assailants, led by named accused Rishabh Thakur and Deepak Pathak along with 20-25 unidentified associates, suddenly arrived and created a ruckus. They allegedly hurled abuses, physically assaulted the staff and customers, and issued death threats.
In a video statement circulating on social media, the birthday girl stated that the attackers misbehaved with her and tried to snatch her mobile phone. She confirmed that her party included around 12-13 people, with two friends from the Muslim community. The vigilantes falsely accused the group of "love jihad" and specifically targeted and severely assaulted the two Muslim youths, she alleged.
Vandalism and Police Response
The mob did not stop at the assault. They proceeded to vandalise the cafe, damaging expensive items and causing significant financial loss to the owner. Police officials, including Circle Officer Ashutosh Shivam, stated that upon receiving information, a team rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
However, in a controversial follow-up, the police detained the cafe owner, Shailendra Gangwar, and two birthday party attendees—Shaan and Waqaib (also referred to as Waqif in the report)—for "breach of peace." All three were later released on bail after furnishing personal bonds. Station House Officer Rajbali Singh of Prem Nagar police station clarified that the cafe was booked for the celebration by Shaan and Waqaib.
FIR and Political Links Denied
Based on Gangwar's complaint, an FIR was registered against Rishabh Thakur, Deepak Pathak, and 25 unidentified persons. The charges include sections related to house trespass, voluntarily causing hurt, criminal intimidation, mischief, and rioting under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Police said they were examining CCTV footage and viral videos to identify the other accused, who were absconding at the time of the report.
While it was alleged that the main accused have links with the Bajrang Dal, the organisation's Bareilly coordinator, Aryan Chaudhary, denied any association. It was further claimed that Rishabh and Deepak are self-proclaimed cow vigilantes with a history of creating disturbances in the area over "love jihad" and other issues. Police confirmed that no one sustained serious injuries requiring hospitalisation in the incident.
