INDIA: Elderly Couple Beaten Up, Given Sedatives

HYDERABAD, Andhra Pradesh (The Times of India), May 30, 2006: Recent burglar attacks on senior citizens living by themselves in the city have raised questions on their security. When elderly citizens Dr Vittal Reddy and his wife Laxmi – living in Jubliee Hills – were beaten up and injected with sedatives by construction workers, the police sat up and took note. The ex-watchman had given details of the elderly couple, whose only daughter is settled in Australia, to a mafia gang. The attackers wanted to abduct the couple and ask the daughter for ransom. However, when they could not find a suitable getaway vehicle, they abandoned the 'operation'. The Reddys may have had a miraculous escape, but the incident has left senior citizens in the city worrying about their safety. Allapa Rao of Banjara Hills says, "Both my sons are in the United States and my daughter lives in Bangalore. I live alone in a palatial bungalow. After the incident, I have asked my son to do away with this property as none of my children are going to come back to it." Some elderly people feel that they have become custodians of ancestral property or caretakers of assets that their children assimilate from abroad. Sunita Rao, a 60-year old says, "I have a young girl staying with me all the time, but it's difficult to trust her, as I often see her talking to outsiders. The thought that she might divulge details about me and my house to others scares me." The police have found that construction workers and servants inform miscreants about elderly people and their homes. To avoid being at the mercy of servants, most of them stay on good terms with their neighbours. The president of Federation of AP Senior Citizens Organisation, Dr Rao Chelikani says, "Senior citizens living alone should shift to gated colonies or apartments where there are neighbours to protect them." He insists that senior citizens must show tolerance to noise and children and adjust in these colonies. On the other hand, the police have charted out a list of dos and don'ts, which includes asking senior citizens to get their servants and watchmen registered with the police. This will help the police keep tabs during night patrols. DCP Amit Garg says, "It's important that safety locks and grilled doors be installed in homes. Also, they must notify the police if they find any suspicious characters frequenting their home." • Total population of senior citizens in Hyderabad : 400,000 • Number of Senior citizens registered with the police — Banjara Hills and Jubliee Hills: 60 couples — West Maradpally and Tarnaka: 15 couples Safety measures • Senior citizens should get their servants and watchmen registered with the police • Safety locks and grilled doors should be installed in homes "Living with a nightmare" By Kaniza Garari Copyright ©2006 Times Internet Limited. All rights reserved