What should have been a joyful celebration of friendship turned into a chilling example of communal policing in India. In Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, two young Muslim men were fined and booked under Section 151 of the CrPC—for the alleged crime of attending their Hindu friend’s birthday party at a local café. The charge? Breach of peace.
The real disruption didn’t come from the birthday guests—but from a group of Bajrang Dal activists who stormed the café, accusing the Muslim attendees of “love jihad,” a baseless conspiracy theory often weaponized to police interfaith interactions. Despite police later confirming no evidence of wrongdoing, the two students and a café staffer were still penalized “to maintain public order.” The incident has sparked outrage over the criminalization of ordinary social bonding in India’s increasingly polarized climate.
Table of Contents
- What Happened at the Bareilly Café?
- The Breach of Peace Charge: Explained
- Love Jihad Myth and Its Real-World Harm
- Police Response: Contradictions and Criticism
- Legal and Social Implications
- Voices from Civil Society
- Conclusion: When Friendship Becomes a Crime
- Sources
What Happened at the Bareilly Café?
On December 26, 2025, a group of friends—including two Muslim students in their early 20s—gathered at a café in Bareilly to celebrate the birthday of their Hindu classmate. The mood was festive, the setting ordinary. But the celebration was abruptly interrupted when members of the Bajrang Dal entered the premises, shouting accusations of “love jihad” and demanding the Muslim boys leave immediately.
According to eyewitnesses and the café owner, the activists filmed the scene, made threatening remarks, and created a commotion that drew a crowd. The birthday host, visibly shaken, pleaded that it was just a private gathering of friends. But the damage was done.
Police arrived soon after. Instead of detaining the disruptors, they took the Muslim attendees and a café employee to the station. All three were later fined ₹500 each under Section 151 (‘breach of peace’) for “disturbing public order”—despite being the victims of the disturbance.
The Breach of Peace Charge: Explained
Section 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) allows police to arrest someone preventively if they believe the person is likely to commit a “breach of peace” or “disturb the public tranquility.” It’s meant to be a short-term, preventive measure—not a punishment.
However, in this case, the power was used perversely:
- The actual disturbers—Bajrang Dal members—were not identified or charged.
- The victims of the disruption were penalized for “causing” the chaos they endured.
- No formal FIR was filed against the vigilantes.
Legal experts call this a textbook case of breach of peace being misused to appease majoritarian sentiment rather than uphold justice. “It sends a dangerous message: that interfaith friendships are suspicious and punishable,” says advocate Fatima Khan of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL).
Love Jihad Myth and Its Real-World Harm
The term “love jihad” has no legal or factual basis in India. It refers to a debunked conspiracy theory claiming Muslim men systematically lure Hindu women into marriage for conversion. Multiple state investigations—including in Uttar Pradesh—have found no evidence of an organized plot.
Yet, the myth persists and is increasingly used to justify surveillance, harassment, and even violence against Muslim men. According to a 2024 report by the Amnesty International India, over 70% of “love jihad” cases filed in UP between 2020–2024 were dismissed due to lack of evidence .
In the Bareilly incident, the mere presence of Muslim men at a social event with Hindu peers was enough to trigger accusations—highlighting how the myth has normalized suspicion around everyday interactions.
Police Response: Contradictions and Criticism
Bareilly police initially cited “maintenance of law and order” as the reason for penalizing the boys. However, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ashok Kumar later stated clearly to the media: “There is no love jihad angle. It was just a birthday party among friends.”
This contradiction—admitting innocence while still imposing penalties—has drawn sharp criticism:
- Opposition leaders called it “institutional capitulation to mob pressure.”
- Student unions across UP demanded apologies and withdrawal of charges.
- Legal activists noted the fine sets a precedent where victims are punished to “avoid further trouble.”
When law enforcement prioritizes perceived peace over actual justice, it erodes public trust in the very institutions meant to protect it.
Legal and Social Implications
This incident reflects a broader trend in parts of North India:
- Normalization of Vigilantism: Groups like Bajrang Dal operate with impunity, knowing authorities often side with them to “avoid unrest.”
- Chilling Effect on Interfaith Contact: Young people may avoid cross-community friendships out of fear.
- Misuse of Preventive Laws: Sections like 151 CrPC become tools of social control rather than public safety.
Ironically, the birthday party—a symbol of unity—was criminalized in the name of “peace,” while the real aggressors walked free.
Voices from Civil Society
Human rights organizations have condemned the incident. “Punishing friendship is the opposite of peace,” said Harsh Mander, founder of Karwan-e-Mohabbat. “It’s state-sanctioned social segregation.”
Meanwhile, the two students, fearing backlash, have gone into temporary hiding. Their Hindu friend, the birthday celebrant, posted a tearful video online: “They’re my brothers. Why is this happening?”
Conclusion: When Friendship Becomes a Crime
The Bareilly case is more than a local controversy—it’s a symptom of a deeper societal fracture. Charging innocent youths with breach of peace for attending a birthday party doesn’t preserve harmony; it enforces division. True peace isn’t the absence of conflict—it’s the presence of justice, trust, and the freedom to celebrate life together, regardless of faith. For more on protecting civil liberties in India, explore [INTERNAL_LINK:rights-to-peaceful-assembly-india].