The 55-year-old woman, who lives in a joint family on the 16th floor of Orchid Tower in Worli, was attacked and looted in her own home.
Police say that absconding help is main suspect
MUMBAI: Saturday evening turned into a nightmare for Chanda Ashok Dani. The 55-year-old woman, who lives in a joint family on the 16th floor of Orchid Tower in Worli, was attacked and looted in her own home.
Dani’s domestic, who police say is absconding, is the main suspect. Dani was at home with her domestic help, Sanjay, 22, at 4pm, when the doorbell rang and two people entered the house. Before she could ask anything, the three men apparently assaulted her and tied her up with a sari. They then looted the house of valuables and also made off with Rs two lakh in cash.
Sanjay was employed by the Dani family just a month ago. He was recommended by the Danis’ old help, who recently went on leave, since they were from the same state. The police have detained two other persons, who knew Sanjay from his native village, for questioning. Sniffer dogs were also brought to the flat to find clues. Dani was admitted to a private nursing with head injuries, and discharged later that evening.
The additional police commissioner, deputy police commissioner, Crime Branch Unit 3, and an officer of the Property Cell all visited the house, but refused comment on the matter. After a recent spate of crimes against the elderly — a 62-year-old woman was murdered in her Peddar Road apartment; a former Censor Board member was killed in her Worli home, and an elderly couple was killed by their help in Santa Cruz — the police is taking no chances.
Especially since they have assured safety for seniors, following these incidents.
Residents in the connecting buildings of Orchid Tower and Patel Cooperative Society have, however, been shaken by this incident. Another senior citizen, D K Jain, said: “We don’t know how to make sure we are protected. No one seems to be able to guarantee our security. Culprits of such crimes, when they are caught, should be publicly punished and made an example of. I don’t know how the police can assure security; they never visited our homes.”
The Mumbai police recently started a scheme where copes visit senior citizens in their homes to convince them to register themselves with the police. A female resident of Patel building said: “I get to know about such incidents only when the police come. I called up one of my friends who lives in Orchid, and heard about this. Strangely, she was not aware of the incident till I informed her. In societies like ours, no one knows what is going on in the neighbouring flat.”
Two men who live in same building say they are now worried for their parents. According to Ankit, “Once we move out, our parents become responsible for their own security. There should be a proper check before watchmen are employed, so that they can deal with any suspicious persons visiting. To some extent, this could help prevent such crimes.” His friend Parshav added: “Chanda Dani was not too old and her relatives live in the same building. Yet this incident happened. I don’t know how we can prevent such things.”
s_vijay@dnaindia.net
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