A 22-year-old nursing student from Bareilly has spoken out after her birthday celebration at a café was disrupted by a group of right-wing activists, who alleged “love jihad” and allegedly assaulted her friends.
The incident took place on 27 December 2025 at a café in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh.
What Happened at the Café
According to the woman, she had invited around 40 classmates to celebrate her birthday, but only 12 were able to attend. Among those present were her friends Waqib and Shaan.
Around 12.30 pm, her friends gathered at the café. Nearly an hour later, as she began cutting her birthday cake, around two dozen men allegedly barged into the café, raising slogans and creating chaos.
“They started assaulting my classmates, Waqib and Shaan,” the woman said, adding that the group also misbehaved with her and other attendees while questioning them about their religion.
"Do I Need to Choose My Friends Based on Religion?"
In a video shared on social media, the student expressed distress over the incident.
“I feel deeply ashamed that my friends were harassed and assaulted,” she said. “Do I now need to choose my friends based on their religion?”
She also stated that her family was aware of her friendships, and that she regularly posted pictures with her friends on social media.
“If my family has no objection, who are these people to ‘guide’ me?” she asked.
The woman further claimed that the attack appeared pre-planned, alleging that someone may have informed the attackers about the gathering.
Police Action So Far
Police have arrested five people in connection with the incident. However, the main accused named by the woman have not yet been arrested, according to reports.
Initially, Waqib, Shaan, and the café owner were detained by the police for breach of peace, but were later released on bail.
