‘Bajrang Dal responsible if I die…’: Nursing student after vigilantes disrupt her birthday at Bareilly cafe

The woman said the celebration included mostly Hindu friends, with only two Muslims present

• Woman traumatised after vigilantes stormed her birthday over love jihad claims
• She questions CM Yogi Adityanath on women's safety after the incident
• Five people have been arrested in connection with the case

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Days after vigilantes stormed her birthday celebration at a Bareilly cafe over love jihad allegations, the 22-year-old woman said the incident has left her traumatised, as she questioned chief minister Yogi Adityanath over women safety.

“I've been depressed for two days and I've stopped going to college. How will I ever face society again? A video is going viral showing two Muslim men and a girl caught in a cafe. This is a lie. My other friends were also there. I can't bear this trauma,” she said in an interview with Dainik Bhaskar.

“How will I even show my face at college? The college authorities will ask me what I did. What explanation will I give them? If the college authorities don't believe me, then suicide will be my only option. If I commit suicide, then Bajrang Dal members will be responsible for my death,” said the woman, a final-year nursing student.

About 25 right-wing activists allegedly barged into a private birthday celebration at a Bareilly cafe on Saturday, assaulted two guests from the minority community and shouted “love jihad” slogans.

The group was allegedly led by Rishabh Thakur, a self-proclaimed cow vigilante and expelled Bajrang Dal member, who has not yet been arrested, according to a report by Times of India.

Police later arrested five accused on Monday, but initially booked the minority community students and the cafe owner for breach of peace, drawing criticism over the lack of immediate action against the attackers.

The woman said the celebration included mostly Hindu friends, with only two Muslims present, and that everything was calm until a group suddenly stormed into the café.

“I want to tell chief minister Adityanath that he says ‘save girl child, educate her, and ensure her safety.’ Where is the safety for girls here? As for people asking why I'm friends with Muslims, we're studying together in college, and there are Hindus, Muslims, and people of all castes there. You can't choose your friends based on their caste, can you?” she asked.