BENGALURU: The Yelahanka police have busted a gang that used to target victims active on dating apps. The police zeroed in on the accused after a 27-year-old civil engineer was brutally attacked and robbed by four persons, including two minors whom he met through a dating app. The gang is said to have been involved in robbing eight dating app users. All the four have been arrested.
The incident happened near the Palanahalli Gate on Jayamuni Layout Road in Venkatala between 7 pm and 7.45 pm on May 1. The victim, a resident of Brindavan Layout in Chikkajala, gave his statements to the police at the hospital. The hospital had reported the matter to the police as it was a medico-legal case.
Ajith (name changed), in his complaint, stated that he had been using a dating app for the past three years. He had befriended a person on the app, and after a phone call went to meet the caller at Palanahalli Gate.
When Ajith went there, he saw four people who took him towards Venkatala Underpass and proceeded along Jayamuni Layout Main Road. The accused then started threatening him that they would inform his friends and parents, which would humiliate him.
They demanded money from him, abused and threatened him. One of them also snatched his mobile phone.
The four of them then took him to a deserted area near a private school and threatened him at knife point to reveal his UPI password. When Ajith attempted to escape, the accused restrained him and forcibly obtained his mobile password and transferred Rs 16,000 through UPI.
They then abandoned him along with the phone and fled the spot. His friend came to the spot and took him on a two-wheeler to a private hospital on Bagalur Main Road.
“The accused are habitual offenders. They target victims active on dating apps,” said an officer.