Nagpur: Is safety and security at stake for senior citizens in the Second Capital City of Nagpur? If figures and facts are scanned for a period of five years the answer might be “Yes.”
The city witnessed a total of 943 crimes of varying nature against the senior citizens in the past five years – 2012 to 2016. 36 elder men and women were murdered in the period. 2012 saw 4 murders, 2013 – 12, 2014 – 7, 2015 – 5 and 8 senior citizens were done to death in 2016 till November.
The information was revealed by an RTI reply to a poser filed by activist Abhay Kolarkar.
Further, the frail persons faced 212 robberies committed against them with the year 2014 topping the chart with 49 cases. Followed by the 44 robberies in 2016 (till November), 40 each in 2012 and 2013 and 39 in 2015.
The senior citizens in Nagpur were not spared of attempts to murder, thrashing and other violent acts either. A total of 449 cases of the said crimes committed against the elders were registered. The year 2015 topped the list with 116 cases. The second worst year was 2016 with 99 cases, 87 in 2013, 83 in 2014 and 64 in 2012.
The aged persons also faced the duping and cheating at the hands of miscreants. 65 cases of cheating took place in 2015, the highest in the past five years. It was followed by 54 in 2016, 52 in 2014, 39 and 36 cases in 2013 and 2012 respectively.
Cyber crime fraudsters made an easy target of the senior citizens. The year 2015 saw 98 cyber crimes committed against them with the figure of arrests standing at 28. 90 cases were registered in 2016 (22 arrests), 46 (11 arrests) in 2014, 19 and 15 cases in 2013 and 2012 respectively. 21 offenders each were also arrested in the period.
The RTI reply further informed that Police Commissionerate activated Senior Citizens Assistance Cell from 2.12.2015 in Nagpur. The Cell is in operation in every police station. Many of the senior citizens have been issued identity cards. A helpline on 24-hour basis is also in service of the elders. The Crime Branch and Police Station staff visit houses of 10-12 senior citizens in various areas and apprise themselves about the problems and difficulties faced by them. A tri-monthly meeting is held at Police Gymkhana where complaints are redressed after detailed discussions. The senior citizens are told to take precautionary steps when they are alone in houses.
