INDIA: Cops in Mumbai on drive to protect senior citizens

. MUMBAI, Maharashtra / The Times of India / June 25, 2009 Nitasha Natu, Times News Network Following the discovery of the brutal murder of 74-year-old Surekha Narvekar in Charkop on Monday, the police in north Mumbai have gone on alert to protect senior citizens who live alone. Zonal deputy commissioner Sanjay Banerjee convened a meeting of seven police stations in north Mumbai on Wednesday. Senior inspectors were instructed to mobilise beat marshalls to carry out exhaustive checks in all housing socities. "We are focussing on senior citizens living alone,'' Banerjee said. "Beat marshalls will speak to the chairman or secretary of each housing society to find out if any elderly people stay there. An updated list with names and contact numbers will be prepared. Constables will then visit them every week and also inquire with their immediate neighbours. The neighbours will be told to alert the police if the senior citizen is not seen around or does not open their door for long,'' he added. Meanwhile, the Charkop police are questioning all those who frequently visited the residence of Narvekar. She was found on Monday night, when cops forced open the door of her home. Narvekar lived alone at Dhavalgiri Society, Sector 4. The police believe the killer was known to Narvekar, probably visited her regularly and was aware of her schedule. "Narvekar did not cook at home as she was old. A tiffin boy delivered meals and we are making inquiries with him,'' a police official said. Workers carrying out repairs to a room across from Narvekar's home are also being questioned. "The labourers work till 6 pm, but they are daily wagers and different men turn up every few days. We are trying to trace all those who reported to work in the past month,'' the officer added.[rc] Copyright © 2009 Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd.