Elderly Man Falls Victim to Honey Trap in Bijnor: A Cautionary Tale
Incident in Bijnor Raises Concerns Over Digital Safety
Bijnor News: A troubling incident from Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, highlights the dangers of the digital world. Here, cunning criminals exploited the loneliness of a 69-year-old man, ensnaring him in a honey trap before executing a meticulously planned robbery. The police acted swiftly, apprehending four members of the gang, while two suspects remain at large.
The incident occurred in the Kotwali city area. The victim, Virendra Bhatanagar, connected with a profile named 'Baby' through a dating app. Unbeknownst to him, the profile was managed by a young man named Sameer. To solidify their scheme, the gang had women from their group engage in flirtatious conversations with the elderly man to gain his trust. Once he was fully ensnared, they lured him to a predetermined meeting spot.
Chilling Plot Unfolds at a Secluded Farmhouse
On April 17, 2026, Virendra Bhatanagar arrived as planned. There, the accused Monish offered him a ride on his motorcycle to a remote farmhouse. Upon arrival, he was ambushed by Sameer, Akil, Anas, Farhan, and Fardeen, who had been lying in wait.
The assailants brutally assaulted the elderly man, threatening him with death to instill fear. They stole his gold ring and chain, but the horror did not end there; they seized his mobile phone and coerced him into revealing his 'PhonePe' password, transferring ₹65,000 to various accounts.
Police Swiftly Respond and Make Arrests
The following day, on April 18, the victim's son, Vishal Bhatanagar, filed a complaint with the police. The Bijnor police promptly registered a case under Section 309(6) BNS. Utilizing surveillance and technical evidence, they tracked the suspects' locations and arrested Monish, Sameer, Akil, and Anas. They recovered the stolen gold ring, chain, and ₹42,380 in cash, along with the mobile phone used in the crime and other evidence.
Significant Revelations During Interrogation
Main suspect Sameer disclosed to the police that the entire incident was premeditated as a honey trap. The gang's objective was to target wealthy elderly individuals. The stolen money had been divided among the accomplices. Meanwhile, the police are actively searching for the absconding suspects, Farhan and Fardeen.
Digital Safety Concerns Raised
This incident serves as a stark warning that trusting strangers on social media and dating apps can have dire consequences. Criminals are exploiting the emotions and loneliness of vulnerable individuals to ensnare them in theft schemes. The Bijnor police have urged the public to exercise extreme caution when using such apps.