Pune Rural Police Nab Gang Luring Victims via Dating Apps for Kidnapping, Robbery
Shikrapur, 14th October 2024: Using modern technology and dating apps, a gang would initiate contact with strangers, lure them in, and then kidnap and rob them of cash and valuables. In one such case, they kidnapped a person near Shikrapur by asking for directions to Mumbai, catching him by surprise. The Local Crime Branch (LCB) of the Pune Rural Police Force has arrested the gang responsible for these crimes.
Sushant Popat Nagare (25), Mayur Raju Gaikwad (24), and Shreyas Bhausaheb Angare (24), all residents of Ahmednagar, have been arrested. They face charges under BNS Sections 137(2) (kidnapping) and 309(6) (robbery) in a case registered at Shikrapur Police Station by the Pune Rural Police on 10th October.
According to police reports, on 10th October, a man was standing by the roadside in Shikrapur when a group of individuals in a four-wheeler approached him, asking for directions to Mumbai. They forcibly abducted him, beat him, and stole his mobile phone. They then drove towards the Pune-Ahmednagar Highway, where the kidnappers stopped for refreshments. Seizing the opportunity, the man escaped and reported the incident to the Shikrapur Police Station.
Recognizing the seriousness of the crime, Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Pankaj Deshmukh instructed the Local Crime Branch (LCB) to investigate. The LCB quickly formed a team and began analyzing CCTV footage, identifying the vehicle used in the kidnapping, which was registered in Ahmednagar. The LCB tracked the suspects to Ahmednagar, arrested the three men, and seized the vehicle involved in the crime.
During interrogation, the suspects revealed that they had used a mobile dating app to lure the victim to an unfamiliar location, where they kidnapped him. They had committed this type of offence multiple times, and in some cases, they also took photos of their victims to threaten and extort money from them. Similar cases had been reported at Lonikand Police Station (1 case) and Shikrapur Police Station (3 cases), totalling four incidents. All the accused are notorious criminals with violent histories. Pune Rural Police have urged anyone who has experienced similar incidents to come forward and report them.
This operation was conducted under the guidance of Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Pankaj Deshmukh, Additional Superintendent of Police Ramesh Chopade, and Sub-Divisional Police Officer (Shirur Division) Prashant Dhole. The LCB and Shikrapur Police Station team, led by Police Inspectors Avinash Shilimkar and Deepratna Gaikwad, included Amit Sidpatil, Mahesh Dongare, and Police Constables Tushar Pandare, Janardan Shelke, Raju Momin, Sanju Jadhav, and Sagar Dhumal.
