Attacks on gay dating app users surge in Pune; reported cases seen as tip of iceberg
Pune is witnessing a surge in violent attacks targeting users of gay dating applications, with police and activists confirming multiple incidents over the last couple of years. On September 29, three youngsters allegedly attacked a 22-year-old man from Bhosari who was meeting another man through the Grindr app at a dilapidated building near the Mental Asylum in Yerwada around 6 pm. The assailants forcibly transferred Rs 20,000 from the victim's PhonePe account, threatened to kill him, and attempted sexual assault before abandoning him at Vishrantwadi Chowk.
The victim approached police only after receiving counselling from YUTAK Trust, an NGO working with LGBTQIA+ communities. Following investigation into the bank transfer, police arrested 19-year-old Devendra alias Karan, with efforts ongoing to apprehend the remaining two accused. Police booked all three on charges including voluntarily causing hurt, robbery, and criminal intimidation. Previous cases reveal similar patterns: in April, a minor lured a 25-year-old man through a dating app, leading to an attack and robbery of Rs 8,600. Earlier in the year, police arrested a gang of five for robbing multiple gay dating app users between December 2025 and January 2026.
Police officials indicate that registered cases represent only a fraction of actual incidents, as many victims remain reluctant to file formal complaints due to stigma, fear of exposure, and lack of confidence in reporting mechanisms.
