Greed, money, property disputes driving family members to kill senior citizens, police records show.
The spate of attacks on senior citizens over the past year raised concerns about the safety of the elderly in the city. What is even more worrying is that children, relatives and known people carried out over 80% of those murders, according to records available with the Mumbai police.
Of the 17 senior citizens found killed in Mumbai in the past year, relatives had executed six murders while in eight cases, the attacker was known to the victim. One such case involved the murder of a 90-year-old woman in Masjid Bunder last week. The police on Sunday arrested her 65-year-old alcoholic son in connection with the murder. He allegedly wanted to sell their property despite opposition from his mother.
“Most of the crimes against senior citizens in a metro like Mumbai happen because of the isolation they live in. They become vulnerable because of their deteriorating physical and mental health,” psychiatrist Dr Pawan Sonar told DNA. “Senior citizens are very vulnerable just like small children. It is not only a criminal issue, but also a social issue. It has to be tackled at several levels,” said assistant commissioner of police J Hargude.
Money is usually the main motive behind the attacks on senior citizens. A 68-year-old woman was killed by her grandson and his friends in September 2011 because they wanted money to splurge in pubs and lead a lavish lifestyle. Similarly, a South Mumbai resident, Fehmida Sheikh, 60, and her 27-year-old nephew were found murdered inside their flat in October last year. Both were high court lawyers.
Officials investigating the case claim the murders were allegedly carried out by Fehmida’s brother because of a property dispute. He also felt he was neglected and ill-treated.
Another major incident was the murder of 79-year-old Radhabai Krishnan and her 45-year-old mentally challenged son Jayram in their Ghatkopar home in April 2011.
The police arrested Radhabai’s elder son, Gopal Krishnan, 47, in connection with the killings. Krishnan, who was personal assistant to the vice-chancellor of the Mumbai University, was miffed because he was allegedly being ill-treated and felt his mother favoured Jayram.
“There have also been many cases of acquaintances and friends killing senior citizens. It is a cause of concern,” a police officer said. Last year, Lalita Kamble, a Vikroli-based senior citizen, was murdered by her best friend for a trivial reason.
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