Pune: A young man was robbed after being lured into a meeting through a mobile friendship app. The incident took place in the Hadapsar railway station area, where the victim was assaulted, and a gold chain worth ₹42,000 was stolen. The perpetrators also threatened him with dire consequences if he reported the crime.

The 24-year-old complainant, a resident of Hadapsar, lodged a complaint at Mundhwa Police Station. As per the police report, he had become acquainted with a person through the app.

On January 23, the accused invited him to meet at Hadapsar railway station. When the victim reached the designated location near Lakshmi Lawn, the assailants attacked him, forcibly snatched his gold chain, and threatened him to remain silent about the incident.

Fearful, the victim refrained from reporting the crime immediately but has now approached the authorities. This is not the first such incident in the area. A few days ago, a software engineer was similarly tricked through an online acquaintance, called to Hadapsar railway station, and then attacked and robbed of his cash.

Another similar crime occurred on the DSK Vishva Road in Dhayari, where a businessman was targeted using the same modus operandi. In that case, the Nanded City Police arrested a suspect along with two minor accomplices. Given the rise in such cases, the police have urged citizens to exercise caution when meeting strangers through mobile applications.