A birthday celebration at a cafe in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, turned into a scene of chaos and unfounded accusations on Sunday. The young woman at the center of the event has revealed that her private gathering was violently disrupted by members of a right-wing group.
Birthday Party Interrupted by Unwanted Guests
The victim, a nursing student, had organized a small get-together with her classmates to mark her birthday. She invited a group of ten friends—six girls and four boys—to the cafe. According to her statement to The Times of India, the celebration was proceeding normally until it was abruptly invaded.
Activists from the Bajrang Dal forcibly entered the venue, launching verbal and physical assaults. They specifically targeted two Muslim guests present, accusing them of being part of a "love jihad" conspiracy, a term used by some right-wing groups to allege a campaign of conversion through marriage.
Victim Speaks Out, Police Refute Core Allegation
The birthday girl strongly contested the narrative put forth by the activists. She clarified that the majority of her guests were Hindu, and only two were Muslim. "The claim of 'love jihad' was also unfounded," she told the newspaper. She also accused the group of sharing selective video footage that did not capture the full extent of the incident, where her friends were allegedly thrashed and she was manhandled while trying to intervene.
Videos from the location later showed police personnel restraining the distressed woman as she resisted being taken away from the scene. Following the incident, the local police initiated an inquiry. The investigation concluded that there was no evidence to support the love jihad angle raised by the Bajrang Dal members. The police confirmed the gathering was simply a birthday party among classmates.
Legal Action Takes a Controversial Turn
Despite the police finding no wrongdoing on the part of the students, the aftermath took a legal twist. Based on a complaint following the brawl, the two Muslim boys who attended the party, along with a staff member of the cafe, were booked under charges of "breach of peace." The First Information Report (FIR) alleges they disturbed public order.
This action has sparked debate, as it penalizes attendees of a private party that was violently interrupted by outsiders. The case highlights the tension between maintaining law and order and the right to peaceful assembly, especially in situations clouded by baseless communal allegations.
