Bareilly Cafe Assault Accused Rishabh Thakur Arrested in New Religious Slogan Attack Case
Rishabh Thakur, a key figure in the notorious "Bareilly cafe assault case," has been apprehended by city police for allegedly assaulting a 21-year-old man from a minority community. The incident, which occurred in front of the victim's friend, involved forcing the young man to publicly chant religious slogans, sparking widespread condemnation.
Details of the Latest Incident
Thakur, described as a 'zila badar' or criminal expelled from the district, reportedly targeted the young couple on a Saturday evening due to their different faiths. According to police statements released on Tuesday, Thakur "misbehaved" with the pair, leading to a violent altercation. The attack was filmed by Thakur's associates and circulated online, showing the victim being beaten with slippers and coerced into chanting slogans.
Taking suo motu cognizance of the viral clip, Bareilly Cantt police acted swiftly, picking up Thakur on Sunday night and initiating a thorough investigation. The victim's father, Vijender Singh, filed a formal police complaint, condemning Thakur's actions and clarifying that his 17-year-old daughter was with the youth, Shoib Ali, with his permission. Singh stated, "My daughter was with Shoib Ali, who works in Dubai and visits our place often. On Saturday, they were strolling with my consent when Thakur not only thrashed him but also extorted Rs 9,000. We have all the details."
Legal Actions and Police Response
Cantt circle officer Ashutosh Shivam confirmed that an FIR has been registered against Thakur and others under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The charges include:
- Section 352 for breach of peace
- Section 115(2) for voluntarily causing hurt
- Section 351(3) for criminal intimidation
- Section 353(2) for circulating false information
- Section 308(5) for extortion
Police have seized mobile phones to investigate the extortion angle and recorded the victim's statement. This arrest follows Thakur's expulsion from the district on February 5 by the District Magistrate's orders after an FIR was filed against him for allegedly demanding Rs 40,000 from a spa owner.
Background: The Infamous Cafe Assault Case
Thakur's notoriety stems from a previous incident in December last year, where he disrupted a nursing student's birthday party at a city cafe. Along with around two dozen men, purportedly from right-wing groups, Thakur assaulted her two male friends while raising 'love jihad' slogans. This case initially saw local police issue fines against the Muslim students and cafe owner for "breach of peace," with no immediate action against the perpetrators.
Public outrage and social media criticism forced a reevaluation, leading to the arrest of five individuals: Prince Singh, Aakash, Ashish Kumar, Mridul Dubey, and Deepak. Bareilly SP (city) Manush Pareek later stated that those involved were identified, and an FIR was registered under BNS sections including house trespass, voluntarily causing hurt, criminal intimidation, and rioting.
The nursing student, originally from Badaun, was staying with her aunt in Bareilly at the time. The case highlights ongoing concerns about communal tensions and law enforcement responses in the region.
This report underscores the persistent issues of vigilantism and religious intolerance, with authorities now taking stricter measures against repeat offenders like Thakur.
