Elderly in the city: Soft targets for criminals

Recent murders of two senior citizens have shown that the aged are easy prey for malefactors on the prowl for quick money

Elderly in the city: Soft targets for criminals

Recent murders of two senior citizens have shown that the aged are easy prey for malefactors on the prowl for quick money

The murder of two elderly citizens in a span of three days has brought to the fore a pertinent question. How safe are our elderly citizens? Especially, those living alone.

Counselling helps
"On an average we get 15 calls everyday from senior citizens. Most of the complaints are about cheating, and ill-treatment by children. If we take note of all the crime incidents, it can be observed that most of the victims belong to well-off families. There are many ways to avoid such incidents but unfortunately we have so far failed in this regard," said Counsellor Jyoti Pund, who in association with the city police runs a helpline for senior citizens. "Many senior citizens are at fault most of the times, but their children should understand that they need to be pampered. Even in the recent suicide case, where four persons from a family ended their life, counselling the family members could have helped."

Precautions
The police have advised senior citizens to be circumspect and register themselves at the nearest police station. "It helps the local police to step up patrolling in their areas and take preventive action against criminals on police record. The police also frequently call up the senior citizens -- especially those who stay alone -- and enquire about their well-being. If children have gone out of the country, elderly persons should install security doors," Jyoti said.

He was found murdered at his Lonavla residence on Saturday

Honorary President of International Longevity Centre (India) Dr Sharacchandra Gokhale said elderly person living alone were susceptible to crimes. "Senior citizens staying alone are vulnerable to attacks and other crimes so we advise them to stay in a group or in the company of friends or relatives. These type of offences take place only when the suspect feels that he can get away with the crime, as there will be no other person watching him when he commits the crime."

Preventive steps
Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Anant Shinde said, "We are taking preventive measures to curb crimes against senior citizens. Every Saturday, there's a grievance redressal session organised at every police station. In order to remove the fear factor, officers of the rank of Assistant Commissioners and Inspectors are present during the session so that citizens do not have fear of any sorts," Shinde said.

Fear factor
Meera Tarte (70), residing at the Soniya Apartment in Chaphalkar Colony on Satara road said: "Many women from our society go for a stroll in the evening. I don't feel insecure on my society premises, so I do take certain precautions like carrying the mobile phone along to make calls in case of emergency."

Anita Randive (66), residing at Karve Nagar, said, "My son works in Mumbai and my daughter-in-law has to leave for work early. She works in the Hinjewadi IT park. The entire day my husband and I are alone at home. Many thefts take place in our vicinity which is a cause of concern. We do read in the newspapers everyday and especially when anything like murder happens it scares us. We have no other option but to step out alone from our house to get vegetables or other things from the market."

Past incidents
* Dattagir Manjusha Shaikh (65), a resident of Vetalnagar, committed suicide on February 14, 2011 by hanging himself at his residence after he was harassed by officials from the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation demanding a bribe of Rs 50 thousand.
*u00a0Two elderly women Smita Prabhakar Patki (52) and her sister-in-law Sulabha Patki Pachhapurkar (60) staying alone in their bungalow in Raghukul society in Karve Nagar were murdered on April 17, 2010.
* Suresh Alurkar, owner of Alurkar Music House, was found murdered at his residence on Karve Road on December 14, 2008. The case is still unsolved as cops have failed to trace the suspects

Murdered for money?
Hari Dhamdhere (84), a gas agency owner, was found murdered at his residence in Mitra Mandal colony near Parvati hill on Thursday night. He was stabbed with sharp weapons by some unknown assailants who are suspected to be employees of his own agency. Dhamdhere was found lying in a pool of blood on the kitchen floor, with a telephone wire wrapped around his legs. He had wounds on his neck and head. A cash amount of Rs 3.2 lakh was also found missing from Dhamdhere's house, because of which the police suspect that the intention behind the crime was robbery.

Additional Commissioner of Police Anant Shinde of the Pune Crime Branch said that his officers have got important clues regarding the murder of Hari Dhamdhere. "We will nab the suspects soon," he said.

Non-resident Indian Malgar Singh Surjan Singh Padam (75), residing in the Waksai area near Lonavala was attacked with sharp weapons by some unidentified persons in the wee hours of Saturday. Padam died on the spot owing to serious injuries on the left side of his skull. Padam was a businessman from London, who in 2006 came back to the country and was living away from his wife and daughter. Investigations into the murder of non-resident Indian Malbarsingh Padam (75) who was found murdered in his bedroom on Saturday morning, have revealed crucial information about some former employees.

The Lonavala rural police are suspecting the role of Padam's earlier driver, his maid and her sister in his murder. Police Inspector Vishnu Pawar said, "The primary suspicion is on Kavita, Puja and the earlier driver employed at Padam's residence named Shivaji Yewle as he was allegedly having illicit relations with Kavita's sister Puja. We suspect that they are hiding in Kolakata and hope to arrest them soon."

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