UP Birthday Party Attack: Bareilly Police Take Action Against Accused After Social Media Outrage
Earlier, in a shocking development, media reports stated that Bareilly Police initially took action against the victims.
UP Birthday Party Attack: Following widespread criticism on social media, Uttar Pradesh Police have decided to register a case against members of a right-wing group who allegedly stormed a birthday party hosted by a nursing student at a café in Bareilly.
The party was organised for the student’s friends, including two Muslim friends. The group accused the birthday party attendees of “love jihad.”
In viral videos, dozens of men, led by a man wearing a saffron scarf, can be seen barging into the café, assaulting the guests, and chanting “Jai Shri Ram.” A song referencing Bajrang Dal can be heard playing in the background.
Earlier, in a shocking development, media reports stated that Bareilly Police initially took action against the victims, including the two Muslim friends of the 20-year-old nursing student, instead of proceeding against the mob.
Bareilly SP (City) Manush Pareek told The Wire that the police have identified the individuals involved in the attack and that an FIR is being registered.
“We have sought an explanation from the concerned SHO regarding why action was not taken against the accused. He informed us that the attackers had fled the scene,” the SP was quoted as saying.
The SP added that strict action would be taken against the actual culprits.
The nursing student, a resident of Badaun district, said in a video shared on X that the attackers stormed the café, began assaulting her friends, and accused them of “love jihad.” She said that the attackers tried to harass her and snatch her phone.
“Most of the guests were Hindu. There were only two Muslim friends,” she said, adding that her friends who were assaulted suffered serious injuries
One of the accused has been identified as Rishabh Thakur, who has a history of attacking minorities and couples. Fact-checker Mohammed Zubair stated that Bareilly Police have now registered an FIR against Rishabh Thakur, Deepak Pathak, and 25 others.
According to The Wire, Rishabh Thakur was a member of Bajrang Dal but was expelled from the organisation around two weeks ago as part of disciplinary action.
Meanwhile, Ashish Sharma, Gau Raksha Pramukh of Bajrang Dal’s city unit in Bareilly, told The Wire that although some Bajrang Dal members were present at the café, they were not part of the group that carried out the assault.
“We received information that ten or twelve Muslim boys were present at a birthday party of a Hindu girl. Bajrang Dal workers reached the café and informed the police, after which the Muslim boys were detained,” Sharma said.
He further claimed that the Hindu girl was not assaulted and that the Muslim boys were “slapped two or three times,” asserting that Bajrang Dal members were not involved in the attack.
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