Watch: Bareilly cafe attacker claims he was ‘fighting for Hindus’ in video plea

• Rishabh Thakur, accused of Bareilly cafe assault, still evading police.
• Thakur released a video claiming innocence and justifying actions against "love jihad."
• Police arrested six associates; Bajrang Dal expelled Thakur and denied support

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A fugitive vigilante, accused of leading a mob that assaulted Muslim students at a birthday celebration in Uttar Pradesh, has released a video statement professing his innocence while remaining on the run from police. The incident, which has ignited tensions in Bareilly, saw a private party violently disrupted by allegations of “love jihad.”

Rishabh Thakur, main accused in the attack on Bareilly cafe where Bajrang Dal men assaulted b'day attendees accusing them of Love-Jihad. In a video, Thakur, who is evading arrest could be seen justifying his claims of Love-Jihad and assualt on Muslim boys. pic.twitter.com/jpwF56JyD5

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— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) December 30, 2025

The attack occurred on the afternoon of December 27 at a cafe in the city’s Prem Nagar area. According to police reports and victim accounts, a group of nearly 25 men, led by local figures Rishabh Thakur and Deepak Pathak, stormed the venue where a young woman was celebrating her birthday with approximately a dozen friends, including two Muslim youths.

In a video statement circulated on social media, the birthday girl stated the mob raised religious slogans, misbehaved with her, attempted to snatch her phone and severely beat her two Muslim friends while levelling false accusations of “love jihad” - a conspiratorial term used by some right-wing groups.

Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Thakur, Pathak and 25 unidentified associates under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including charges of house trespass, voluntarily causing hurt, criminal intimidation, mischief and rioting. Authorities confirmed both named accused are absconding and are using CCTV and social media footage to identify the larger mob.

The complaint describes Thakur and Pathak as self-proclaimed cow vigilantes with a history of creating disturbances in the area. Following the assault, Thakur was expelled from the Bajrang Dal. 


The organisation’s metropolitan convener, Kevla Nand Gaur, stated that anyone unable to follow the group’s principles cannot remain a member, adding they would not support Thakur in future. The Bajrang Dal’s Bareilly coordinator, Aryan Chaudhary, has denied any association with the accused men.

As the police investigation tightened, Thakur released a 2-minute 48-second video on Instagram claiming a “false propaganda” is being spread against him. In the video, he asserted he had done nothing wrong and was “fighting against love jihad and for Hindus.”

He contended that if he slapped anyone during “questioning,” it was justified. Thakur also claimed his father had been detained at the police station since the incident and appealed to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for an “impartial investigation.”

This plea for clemency stands in stark contrast to an earlier Instagram reel posted by Thakur after the attack, which appeared to threaten the police. The reel, featuring a man garlanding a laughing Thakur, included background audio stating: “The police have lost their minds. Those who messed with us were never found.”

Six associates of Thakur have been arrested and sent to jail, but the prime accused remains at large. The case continues to develop as authorities work to apprehend the leaders of the mob and reconcile Thakur’s public declarations of principled vigilantism with the accounts of a terrified birthday party and the decisive disavowal by his former organisation.