Vinod M Jain
In a worrying trend,three elderly women have been targeted by robbers in separate incidents across Bengaluru and neighbouring districts over the past week, leaving them injured and raising concerns about the safety of senior citizens living alone or travelling in public places.
The most shocking incident was reported from Chikkaballapur district, where an 80-year-old woman lost her life after being brutally attacked for her earrings.
Subbamma,a resident of Basavanapura village in Gauribidanur taluk,was alone at her daughter’s house when unidentified assailants allegedly barged in and attacked her.
The accused reportedly assaulted the octogenarian,cut her ear to remove her earrings and fled with the jewellery.
Family members found her lying in a pool of blood after returning home and rushed her to a hospital in Yelahanka.
However,she succumbed to her injuries during treatment.
Police have registered a murder case and formed special teams to track down the culprits.
In another incident reported under Ashok Nagar Police Station limits in Bengaluru,a domestic worker,Ameer Bi, was attacked while waiting at a BMTC bus stop on Hosur Road near Johnson Market on June 14.
According to her complaint,an unidentified man struck up a conversation before suddenly attempting to snatch her gold earrings.
When she resisted,the accused allegedly injured her ears and forcibly removed one of the earrings before fleeing.
The stolen jewellery,weighing around five grams,is estimated to be worth Rs.50,000.
In the third incident,62-year-old farmer Anusuyamma was robbed of a gold chain worth nearly Rs.7 lakh outside her residence in Agraharapalya village under Madanayakanahalli police limits.
Police said two motorcycle-borne men approached the victim on the pretext of seeking directions.
As she turned away, one of the accused allegedly snatched a 70-gram gold chain from her neck and escaped with his accomplice.The victim sustained injuries to her neck during the robbery.
The three incidents,occurring within a span of a week, underscore the vulnerability of elderly women to violent property crimes.
Investigators believe criminals are increasingly targeting senior citizens who are alone at home or in public places and are wearing visible jewellery.
Police have registered separate cases in all three incidents and are examining CCTV footage and other evidence to identify and apprehend the accused.
Senior officers have urged citizens, particularly elderly persons,to remain vigilant and avoid displaying valuable jewellery in public.
The incidents have sparked concern among residents and renewed calls for increased police patrolling and surveillance in vulnerable localities to deter such crimes.
