Pune: The Pune police and city-based LGBTQIA+ groups are trying to bridge a long-standing trust gap as members of the queer community continue to face targeted crimes, particularly through dating apps, with most victims reluctant to approach law enforcement.On June 6, police and NGO Yutak organised an outreach session at the Centre for Police Research auditorium, wherein Warje police sub-inspector Shankar Patil urged LGBTQIA+ community members to report crimes. Patil said, “Prevention is better than cure. Don’t share intimate content or personal details online.” He said investigations involving online platforms are often difficult because authorities struggle to authenticate chats and obtain data from apps citing privacy policies.The outreach comes amid several crimes targeting community members in Pune. Last month, Warje Malwadi police arrested three men and detained a minor for allegedly robbing a gay man after contacting him through a dating app. Last year, a man was allegedly lured through Grindr to Bund Garden. He was beaten, held captive and forced to reveal his ATM PIN. Attackers emptied his bank account eventually. In another case, a 21-year-old BCS student from Pimpri died by suicide after allegedly being targeted by an extortion racket operating through Grindr.City-based trans activist Manasvi Goilkar said many don’t report incidents in fear of ridicule, inaction and being outed to their families. “A trans woman, who was assaulted during a date, was mocked at the police station when she sought help. She was questioned over her ‘provocative’ clothing and her complaint did not receive the seriousness afforded to other citizens,” she said.Founder of MIST LGBTQIA+ Foundation Shyam Konnur runs a crisis line to help survivors navigate police procedures and works with local authorities and hospitals. He gets close to six cases a month. “Most callers don’t even trust us with their real name. They don’t want to go to the police, even after hours of counselling,” he said.“Many panic calls come from people who believed they were meeting someone for a date. Once they arrive, the person often calls friends who then gang up, intimidating the victim into paying large bills or handing over money. Some cases escalate further, with victims being taken to secluded places and subjected to violence or extortion,” Konnur added.The LGBTQIA+ dating landscape is riddled with persistent microaggressions. Divya S (26), a professional working at a publishing firm in Mumbai, identifies as a lesbian. She said, “Face verification on dating apps is a joke. I’ve matched with so many ‘verified’ profiles of men pretending to be women.”Mental health experts said dating-based trauma in queer communities has become common unfortunately. “Constant hyper-vigilance, self-censorship and the fear of being outed leads to anxiety, isolation and PTSD-like symptoms. For many, even consenting to a date feels like a high-stakes risk,” said Dr Avni Joshi, a queer-affirmative clinical psychologist.Tech professional Palak (24) identifies as a bisexual. She said dating women has often led to meaningful connections, but interactions with men are marked with ignorance and prejudice, making her cautious about dating apps.City-based trans woman and tattoo artist Zainab (27) said she was thrown out of an auto rickshaw with her partner for “sitting too close.” “We now stick to more cosmopolitan areas like Koregaon Park and avoid parts of the old city that feel threatening,” she said.Patil acknowledged the concerns and said building trust will take time and suggested creating a forum for regular dialogue between police representatives and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
