Pune assistant assaulted, robbed after dating app meeting

A 38-year-old man working at a chartered accountancy firm in Pimpri was robbed and assaulted in Pune. This incident happened at the RTO Chowk around 6 PM on March 18. The victim had met a man on a dating app, and they agreed to meet in person. When the victim arrived, the man and three accomplices attacked him. They forced him to withdraw ₹9,500 from an ATM. The attackers used wooden sticks during the assault before fleeing the scene. The victim reported the crime to the police, who are now investigating. Officials noted a rise in similar crimes in the city. There have been recent robbery incidents linked to dating apps, especially in the Sinhagad Road and Mundhwa areas, targeting victims from the LGBTQIA+ community. Police advise users of dating apps to be cautious. They recommend not meeting strangers in isolated areas or at night. Authorities encourage victims to report such incidents without fear. In related news, a 24-year-old man reported being robbed of his gold chain after meeting two individuals through a dating app in January. The police arrested the suspects later. The city has seen other serious crimes connected to dating apps, highlighting the need for safety awareness.