BAREILLY: Shailendra Gangwar, the owner of Bareilly Cafe in Uttar Pradesh, says his business has virtually come to a halt after a group of right-wing activists allegedly barged into a private birthday celebration at his establishment, assaulted guests and raised slogans accusing those present of “love jihad”.“Since that incident, I have had no business. People are afraid to come to my cafe,” Gangwar told TOI, adding that the disruption has left him facing financial losses and reputational damage.
The incident took place on Saturday evening when a 20-year-old first-year nursing student was celebrating her birthday at the cafe with a small group of friends. According to police and victim accounts, around 25 men, including a self-proclaimed cow vigilante, entered the cafe without permission, objected to the presence of two Muslim students at the gathering and began attacking some of the male guests.Videos widely shared on social media show men assaulting those present inside the cafe, while slogans are heard in the background. One of the guests sustained fractures during the attack, the student said.“The allegations of ‘love jihad’ are completely baseless,” the nursing student, who is from neighbouring Budaun district and stays in a hostel in Bareilly, said. “They gate-crashed our private party and started beating my friends.”Initially, police fined the two Muslim students and a cafe staff member for alleged “breach of peace”, drawing criticism online. Following public outrage on social media, the police registered a case against those accused of carrying out the assault.Bareilly city superintendent of police Manush Pareek said officers had identified several individuals seen attacking people inside the cafe. An FIR has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including house trespass, voluntarily causing hurt, criminal intimidation and rioting.
