The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Special cells to tackle crime against the aged

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 04, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Special cells to tackle crime against the aged

G. Anand

Rural police plan to protect those living alone

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a bid to check crime against senior citizens, the rural police have set up special cells for ensuring the security of elderly persons living alone in the district and having no one to depend upon.

Aged persons, including the parents of people working in foreign countries, have been identified by the police as a population segment highly vulnerable to exploitation, domestic harassment, cheating and crime for financial gain.

The number of elderly persons living alone is high in Kazhakkuttom, Varkala and Attingal areas.

Signature book

The Superintendent of Police, Rural, P. Vijayan, said sub-inspectors had been asked to locate and prepare a register of senior citizens who had no one to depend upon.

The police would visit the houses of such citizens regularly. The "signature book" for policemen on foot and vehicle patrols would be kept at the residences of aged persons.

The police would take the initiative to verify the antecedents of servants employed by aged persons and also those staying as paying guests. The police would also interact with the aged persons and find out if they were being subjected to any kind of harassment or exploitation at the household level.

The Circle Inspectors of Police had been nominated as registration officers for senior citizens.

The CIs and DySPs had been asked to visit old age homes periodically, interact with inmates and act on their complaints. Priority would be accorded to complaints from aged persons. Residents' associations and non-governmental organisations would be roped in for better functioning of the Senior Citizens Security Cell.

Crime on the rise

Another official said crime against senior citizens had been on the increase in the district. In the past 12 months, two senior citizens were found murdered in the district. The murder of Gomathy Ammal, 80, of Chenthitta in April last year remained unsolved despite a year-long investigation by the Crime Branch.

Her body was found tied in a bag in front of the Central Theatre at Pazhavangadi on April 20 night. A relative of hers had emerged as prime suspect in the investigation conducted by the city police.

On April 2, this year, a 72-year-old retired teacher, who was living alone at her house in Neyyattinkara, was murdered for her gold ornaments and cash. A 26-year-old youth in the neighbourhood was arrested in this connection.

In February this year, the police had arrested a 32-year-old home nurse on the charge of stealing gold ornaments from the house of the former Election Commissioner, M.S. Joseph, after drugging his wife.

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