The Gurgaon police have announced plans to issue a formal notice to Grindr, a dating application catering to gay, bisexual, and other LGBTQ+ individuals, following the discovery of criminal gangs that have been exploiting the platform to kidnap and extort users. This decision comes after a particularly alarming incident involving a 22-year-old man who was abducted and assaulted late at night.
Details of the Latest Incident
According to police reports, the victim had arranged to meet a match from Grindr around 12:15 am on Monday in the Kasan area of Manesar. Instead of a romantic encounter, he was intercepted by four men in a white Swift car outside his residence. The assailants forced him into the vehicle and drove him to a remote location near the Kasan hills, where they beat him, threatened his life, and demanded a ransom of Rs 50,000. After obtaining his phone password, they transferred Rs 2,500 via a QR code before the victim managed to escape and report the crime.
Investigators revealed that the individual he had been chatting with on the app initiated casual conversations before luring him to the meetup. This case is part of a broader pattern of similar crimes linked to Grindr, where victims are often targeted due to the social stigma surrounding their sexual orientation.
Pattern of Exploitation
Police officials noted that many victims remain silent out of fear of being exposed to their families. The accused frequently threaten to reveal the victim's sexual orientation to extort money, making young people living alone in the city particularly vulnerable. The officer stated, "Because of the social stigma, many young people become easy targets."
Arrests and Investigation
Following the registration of a case at IMT Manesar police station, a crime branch team swiftly tracked down the suspects: Ashish (19), Naresh Kumar (21), Shivam (19), and Aashu (25), all residents of Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri. Three were arrested on May 5 from IMT Manesar, while the fourth was apprehended the next day from Bhangrola. The group had used a rented car from Dadri for the crime, and the extorted money was deposited into Naresh's bank account. Naresh works as a Rapido rider in Gurgaon, while Aashu runs a grocery shop near Manesar.
The accused are expected to be presented in court and taken on remand for further interrogation. Police are also investigating whether the group is involved in other similar offenses.
Police Advisory
In a statement, the police urged users of dating and social networking apps to verify identities and avoid meeting strangers in isolated locations without informing friends or family. They emphasized the importance of safety precautions to prevent falling prey to such criminal activities.
