Bareilly has been on edge since a disturbing episode of alleged vigilantism shattered what was meant to be a private birthday celebration at a city café.
At the centre of the controversy is 24-year-old Rishabh Thakur, now on the run, whom police describe as a habitual offender with a growing criminal trail and a decisive role in the violence that unfolded.
According to police records accessed by investigators, Thakur already faces three criminal cases registered at the Subhash Nagar police station.
Station House Officer Jitendra Singh confirmed that Thakur was booked in 2022 for theft and assault, and again in 2024 in a case of attempted murder.
Acting on court directions, police arrested him in July this year in the attempted murder case; he was later released on bail in August.
An extortion case also figures in his criminal profile, with charge sheets filed in all matters. Given the pattern, police are now preparing to open a history sheet against him under established procedures.
A resident of Bareilly, Thakur lives in a rented accommodation. Police say he is currently unemployed and comes from a modest background, with his father surviving on informal, small-time work.
What Happened at the Café
The case stems from a Saturday night incident when nearly two dozen men allegedly stormed a café in the Premnagar area where a nursing student was celebrating her birthday with friends.
Videos that later went viral show chaos inside the café as the group was allegedly assaulted and intimidated.
Investigators say the trigger appeared to be the presence of two youths from the minority community at the gathering—an angle that has given the case wider social and political resonance.
Based on the café owner’s complaint, Premnagar police registered an FIR under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including house trespass with preparation for hurt (Section 333), voluntarily causing hurt (115), criminal intimidation (351), mischief (324), and rioting (191), among others.
Arrests Made, Hunt Continues
Police have so far arrested five accused—Ashish alias Paras Johri, Mridul alias Manish Dubey, Akash, Deepak, and Prince Singh—while another key accused, Deepak Pathak, remains absconding along with Thakur.
Officials note that the five arrested are first-time offenders, all residents of Izzatnagar living within a one-kilometre radius.
Their profiles, police say, reflect a mix of youth and precarious livelihoods:
- Ashish (26) works with a private firm while pursuing graduation and is described as a close associate of Pathak.
- Mridul (19) is employed with a food delivery company.
- Akash (21) has dropped out of studies and works in the private sector.
- Deepak (19) earns a living as a fruit vendor after leaving school early.
- Prince (19) is engaged in the dairy business.
Thakur’s Video Claim and Police Response
As police intensified the manhunt, a purported video surfaced online in which Thakur claimed the incident was being “misrepresented” as gundagardi in the name of “love jihad.”
He alleged that six of his associates had been jailed and that his father was detained by police. In the same video, he appealed directly to Yogi Adityanath, seeking what he termed a “fair inquiry.”
Senior Superintendent of Police Anurag Arya told reporters that statements of those present at the birthday celebration would be recorded in detail.
“If any new facts or allegations emerge, additional sections will be invoked,” he said, adding that statements could also be recorded before a magistrate if required.
Arya confirmed that two special teams have been constituted to trace Thakur and other absconding accused.
As the investigation widens, the case has come to symbolise a larger crackdown on vigilante violence in Uttar Pradesh, where police insist that personal backgrounds, political posturing, or social narratives will not dilute the rule of law.
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