Did Kolkata Police Expose an Extortion Racket Using Queer Dating Apps?

Kolkata, July 30 (NationPress) - The Kolkata Police have successfully dismantled an extortion racket that allegedly targeted individuals with alternative sexual orientations by reaching out to them through queer dating applications.

A statement released by the city police on Wednesday morning revealed that three suspects have been apprehended in connection with this operation.

The arrested individuals are identified as Bijay Stephen Singh, known as Asish (31), Irfan Ahmed (28), and Md Wazed (26).

These individuals allegedly demanded Rs 1 lakh from their victims, threatening to expose their sexual orientation on social media platforms.

In one specific case, a member of the gang initially contacted a young man via a queer dating app and later engaged in an intimate encounter with him at a flat. The other gang members captured compromising photographs of the two and began to blackmail the victim, who ultimately paid Rs 1 lakh to the extortionists.

According to the police statement, Bijay Stephen Singh, a.k.a. Asish, was the individual who initially reached out to the victim and subsequently became intimate with him in an empty flat.

Irfan Ahmed and Md Wazed were responsible for taking the compromising images, which they used to extort money from the victim.

"On July 17, a complaint regarding extortion was lodged at Ballygunge Police Station. After connecting with a young man named 'Ashis' via the Grindr app, the complainant arranged to meet him at a residence on Ballygunge Circular Road. During this encounter, two accomplices of the accused arrived at the location and, under the threat of public humiliation, coerced the complainant into paying Rs 96,888 in installments. The funds were transferred online from various bank accounts to the three suspects," the police disclosed on Wednesday.

The police launched an investigation and subsequently apprehended the three suspects.

A case has been registered against them under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Local queer rights activists assert that while it is essential for activist groups to educate the community on safe dating practices, individual members must also exercise caution when engaging in such blind dates.

"Members of the queer community, particularly effeminate males and transgender individuals, are especially susceptible to victimization like in this case. It is crucial for queer rights organizations to conduct regular workshops on safe dating, involving other stakeholders such as law enforcement, legal professionals, and mental health experts," stated Debangshi Biswas, a prominent figure in Kolkata's queer rights movement.

Another activist and social media influencer, Debika Barua, emphasized that the responsibility for safety primarily lies with individuals in the community. "This incident is deeply unfortunate. Everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation, should exercise prudence when meeting someone through dating applications," Barua added.

Notably, in September 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that homosexuality is not a crime, abolishing Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which had previously deemed it a "punishable offense."