Rising crimes against senior citizens threaten to take away the simple joys of life from the elderly in city. Radhika Ramaswamy throws more light on the grim picture
All they want in the twilight years of their lives is mental peace, a walk down the road and a safe neighbourhood. But growing number of violent crimes against senior citizens – from murders and assaults to robbery and chain-snatching – is proving that Mumbai is no longer the safe city it used to be for the elderly.
If statistics of the Mumbai police are anything to go by, there have been 12 cases of senior citizen murders till October 2014 as compared to six for the same period last year. Cops attribute the trend to changing sociocultural dynamics and reduced awareness among senior citizens to seek help.
In August, a 68-year-old businessman, Mahesh Bafna, was robbed and killed by two youths in his godown in Khar West. The duo, Asif Khan, 20 and Nazim Khan, 18, initially befriended the elderly, but later strangled him as they needed money from him.
Two months later, two senior citizens from Khar sustained injuries, one of them grievously, after their caretaker attacked and robbed them of cash and jewellery worth Rs3.82 lakh. Hirachand Jain, 82, and Personben Jain, 79, had got the help only 22 days ago through a private security agency.
According to Sadanand Date, joint commissioner of police (crime), "There is no uniform pattern of crimes against senior citizens. However, in urban setups, where families have become smaller and elderly living independently, they have become vulnerable. In most of the cases, the perpetrators are people known to the victims, be it guards, house help or even a family member."
For criminals like robbers and chain-snatchers, the primary target is senior citizens, who are expected to offer least resistance. A police officer said, "In 60% of cases, chain-snatching victims are elderly women. That apart, another highest form of crime is physical assault."
The officer said times are changing though. "We've had instances where old men and women have fought robbers and assaulters. In majority of cases, the victims, especially those living by themselves, are from rich background, who are prone to security risks for financial gains, property, etc."
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