By: Manvi Vyas
Sharp Increase in Crimes Against Senior Citizens in Telangana
HYDERABAD: Crimes against senior citizens in Telangana have seen a sharp rise of 35% in 2024, with 2,907 cases registered compared to 2,150 in 2023 and 2,181 in 2022, according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data. This marks a significant uptick in offences targeting the elderly population in the state.
While violent crimes remained comparatively low, offences such as cheating, fraud, and theft accounted for 912 cases, making up nearly one-third of all crimes against the elderly. Cheating alone constituted 435 cases, while fraud accounted for 423, indicating growing economic exploitation of senior citizens. These figures highlight a disturbing trend where the elderly are increasingly being targeted for monetary gain through deceptive practices.
Theft emerged as the second most reported offence with 393 cases, further underscoring the vulnerability of senior citizens to property crimes. Additionally, 1,051 cases were booked under various other Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) offences, reflecting the diverse nature of crimes faced by this demographic.
Violent Crimes Remain Low
In contrast to economic offences, violent crimes against senior citizens remained relatively low. Telangana recorded 64 murders, 18 attempts to murder, and 11 cases of culpable homicide not amounting to murder involving senior citizens. Cases of kidnapping (3), rape (4), and sexual harassment (1) were minimal, suggesting that while the elderly are not frequently victims of violent attacks, they are highly susceptible to fraud and theft.
Crime Rate and Police Response
The state recorded a crime rate of 84.4 per lakh senior citizens, while the chargesheeting rate stood at 68.6%. Explaining the surge, central crime station (CCS) deputy commissioner of police S Chaitanya Kumar said, “Crimes do continue unabated, but at the same time, our department has also made available the right kind of reporting mechanisms, making it easier for people to lodge complaints. We are also reaching out to elderly citizens to create awareness.” This suggests that the increase in reported cases may partly be due to improved reporting channels, though the underlying threat remains a concern.
Authorities are urged to enhance preventive measures and community outreach to protect senior citizens from exploitation. The data serves as a wake-up call for families and law enforcement to prioritize the safety of the elderly.
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