TOI: Help at hand for Senior Citizen: Feb 21, 2008 | Senior Citizens : News Articles

HOME ALONE & SCARED MURDER

The Back-To-Back Murders Of Four Senior Citizens Have Scared Mumbai’s Elderly, Especially Those Who Stay Alone

Bella Jaisinghani | TNN

Mumbai: The recent spurt in crimes by domestic servants has instilled doubt, if not fear, within many senior citizens who live alone or are overly dependent on them. And it has strengthened the resolve of those who do not employ fulltime help to carry on without these aids.
   The managing committee of Cumballa Hill’s Sukhmani Society, where Lajwanti Chhugani was killed on Tuesday, is advising members to verify the antecedents of helps and register them with the local police station. “We will strengthen security but individual members must also be mindful of their safety. Such an incident has never occurred in the society’s 44-year history,’’ society secretary Vishnu Ramnani says.
   But other elders in the building are unwilling to rest on assurances. “I have not stepped out of my house since Tuesday night,’’ 75-year-old Mathuradas Bhatia, who commutes to Kandivli to attend Sanskrit classes every evening, says. “I met the victim only last week and the sight of cops filling the lobby and the lift was so shocking.’’ Bhatia is still able to rely on his manservant though he warns others not to trust easily.
   Not far from the scene of crime, there is a family that does not allow itself the luxury of full-time domestic help. At 75, Heera Ghadiali cares for two ailing sisters who are in their 80s and 90s; she also manages the spacious home in this plush neighbourhood. The perception of being wealthy and her sisters’ failing health make a lethal combination which an unscrupulous person may exploit.
   “It would be nice to have somebody young around to help always but I am wary because of the times we live in,’’ Heera says.
   “So I have hired an elderly maid who comes in for a short while. I would never consider the option of a full-time servant. You can hardly defend yourself when you are awake, let alone when you are asleep,’’ she adds.
   This feeling of vulnerability has driven a senior citizens’ family living in Kemps Corner to take up a reverse mortgage on their flat.
   “They have no steady income. Moreover, their extended family has been eyeing their only asset, the house. So they have pledged it to a nationalised bank which pays them a fixed sum for household expenses each month and will take the property after the death of the last senior citizen,’’ says financial consultant Gaurav Mashruwala who advised the option.

BAD OMEN

BREACH CANDY, February 19

68-year-old Lajwanti Chugani was found strangled in her Breach Candy apartment on Tuesday. She was living alone since the death of her husband and had no children. The domestic help initially told cops that a group of men barged into the residence, trussed her and then killed her employer. But investigators are not ruling out an inside job.

SANTACRUZ, February 16

The charred bodies of 72-year-old Dilip Randheri and 61-year-old wife Varsha were found in their Santacruz (W) flat on Saturday. Their domestic help of the last 13 years, Sandeep Mengle, was arrested and he confessed to interrogators that he killed the elderly couple as they did not agree to hiking his salary and were not giving him a leave that he desperately wanted. The Randheris’ son, Neeraj, was living in Bandra and would provide for his parents and was in regular touch with them.

WORLI, February 4

Former Censor Board member Kiran Khanna suffered severed head injuries after it was banged on the wall repeatedly by assailants, who left her bleeding after robbing ornaments and cash. She died in a hospital the same night. Her husband was away in his office when the crime occurred. They have three children but none of them stays in the city. Investigations later revealed that the Khannas’ domestic help tied up with others (mostly drivers of people staying in the neighbourhood) for the crime.

HELP AT HAND

Call the emergency police number, 100, whenever you require any help. Always keep with yourself the number of the nearest police station. There is the Elderline number, 1090, specifically for helping senior citizens that Mumbai Police has come up with.
   Verify the antecedents of your domestic help and keep the local police station informed about their background.

DON’T FALL FOR THESE LINES

Criminals who knock on your door when you are alone may employ some oft-used ruses to gain an entry
I am from a courier agency and there is a parcel or bouquet or letter to deliver. I am from the local gas supply and there is a cylinder I have to deliver. I am the new guy employed by your dhobi. I am the repairman you had sent for.
I am the watchman who is filling in for your regular guy for a few days.
Your regular milkman won’t be coming for a few days and I am standing in for him.

ALWAYS REMEMBER

   Always be suspicious if there is a new man who has brought the gas cylinder (or ironed clothes or milk or any other itemof daily use) or claims to be filling in for your regular person who has “gone on leave”.
   Never open the door unless you are sure of the identity of the person who knocks.

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