Youth arrested for robbing, keeping woman hostage: Delhi Police
(Sourced from PTI)

A 19-year-old man was arrested for allegedly robbing a woman he had come in contact with through a mobile app, by breaking into her house in southeast Delhi and keeping her hostage, police said on Friday. The youth identified as Faisal has been arrested from Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, while his accomplice Ansar is still absconding. The robbery took place on December 22.
"To take revenge on her for refusing to be friends with him, the youth identified as Faisal along with his friend hatched a conspiracy to steal her belongings after forcefully entering her house in southeast Delhi's Pul Prahladpur," the police said.
According to police, Faisal and Ansar wearing masks and mufflers knocked on her door at 1 pm. She opened it slightly but the duo forced their way in. They closed her mouth, tried to strangulate her by her hair and tied her hands with her dupatta. They managed to escape with her laptop, mobile phone, gold chain, and cash worth Rs. 1.25 lakh.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) RP Meena said, "CCTV cameras installed near the house of the complainant and the probable route taken by the accused were checked." In the footage, two men were seen and the team succeeded in apprehending Faisal from his native place in Muzaffarnagar. "Along with his friend Ansar, the accused committed the robbery," DCP Meena added.
"During interrogation, the accused disclosed that he came to know about the mobile app Friend Search Tool Simulator-Direct Chat and downloaded it. He got the mobile number of the complainant through the mobile app," the DCP said. "He used to call her and wanted to become friends with her. Initially, she denied it, but after his insistence, she started talking to him," he added.
In January 2020, Faisal visited the woman's home but she refused to be friends with him citing his young age. "In July, she called him to her house where her husband and sons caught hold of him. They asked him to not call her and threatened him. He assured them that he won't call again, but plotted revenge," the DCP said.
The robbed mobile phone, Rs. 11,000 cash and clothes worn by him at the time of the crime have been recovered from his possession, while the other items are in the possession of Ansar who is still absconding, the police officer said.