A man in India was allegedly lured through a gay dating app, beaten, stripped and extorted by a seven-member gang, police have said.
The 44-year-old, from the Surendranagar district of Gujarat, was allegedly befriended through an app called Polo.
When he arrived at an abandoned house behind Surendranagar Medical College, he allegedly found seven men waiting for him.
The group is said to have surrounded and assaulted him, forcibly stripped him, and recorded obscene photographs and videos.
Police allege the gang then extorted Rs 31,000, around NZD $500, from the man and threatened to share the footage on social media if he refused to comply or told anyone.
The victim later approached the police and lodged a complaint.
Officers said they tracked down and arrested all seven accused using technical surveillance and local intelligence.
Police also recovered the full amount allegedly extorted.
One of the accused has been described as a repeat offender who had previously been booked in two serious “honeytrap”-related cases.
The alleged attack has again highlighted the dangers LGBTQ+ people can face when using dating apps in countries and communities where stigma, fear and blackmail continue to be weaponised against queer people.
