Senior citizens' safety to become a priority for the Mumbai police

In view of the attacks on the elderly in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai in the recent past, the police department of the city is planning to take some initiatives to instill a sense of confidence among the city's senior residents.

"In a step in that direction, meetings will be conducted in various areas with the senior citizens there, wherein the latter will be advised to take adequate precautionary measures for their own safety," says Suresh Mengade, deputy commissioner of police (zone I).

"Many senior citizens' associations approached us and shared their views on their safety and security in the city. Many of them are clueless about the helpline number the police introduced for their convenience. In order to spread awareness among the elderly, we have directed our officials to hold meetings with senior citizens in every area," Mengade said.

"Several residents in Navi Mumbai and Mumbai leave for offices in the early hours, leaving senior citizens either alone or with the maids. Therefore, it is important to take precautionary measures for their safety. We plan to conduct the first meeting with the elderly of our area on Monday," said Ram Pathare, senior police inspector from Vashi police station.

In several incidents in the city in the last one year, senior citizens were attacked by either their domestic helps or their own family members.

Deepak Raut, 70, and wife Amita Raut, 61, residents of sector 10 in Vashi, had retired to bed after having kheer prepared by their domestic help, Shubrota Sanyal, in May last year. Their son had gone out of town that day. Taking advantage of the situation, Sanyal had added some chemicals to the dessert. Two days later, when the couple regained consciousness in a city hospital, they realised that Sanyal had escaped with cash and jewellery worth Rs25 lakh from their house. This is among the many examples.

"It has been observed that several residents take their tenants and domestic helps for granted and become dependent on them. This is not a healthy phenomenon. Even security guards should not be send on personal errands. In several instances, security guards of housing societies turned robbers and molesters," said Sangeeta Alphonso, senior police inspector from Nerul police station.

Sanjay Yenpure, deputy commissioner of police zone (II) said, "We are also conducting regular peace committee meetings, mahila committee meetings, slum panchayat meetings and coastal village meetings in our area and are trying to sensitise people about such incidents. Anyone applying for a passport is mandatorily interviewed by the senior inspector of that area and during that interview also we ask about their security systems in their building."

"No major crimes related to senior citizens have taken place in our area in the past couple of months. But we cannot wait for such untoward incidents to take place and hence we are continuing with our drive," he said.