NCRB report reveals safety concerns for seniors in Ahmedabad

Even in Gujarat, often considered peaceful and safe, elderly citizens are not completely secure. Seniors living alone have increasingly become targets for thieves and criminals. 

According to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, incidents of murder, robbery, kidnapping, and assault against the elderly have risen in Ahmedabad, raising serious concerns about their safety.

Across Gujarat, cases of murder, robbery, assault, physical attacks, and intimidation involving senior citizens have gone up. With the decline of joint family living and many children choosing to live separately—often abroad—an increasing number of elderly people are left alone. In such circumstances, they become vulnerable and easy targets for criminals.

In Ahmedabad, police register an average of 15 crimes per month against people aged 60 and above. The NCRB data for the past year in the city reveals:

• 8 elderly citizens were murdered
• 22 cases of assault and physical attacks were reported
• 1 elderly person was kidnapped

Most of these crimes were linked to robbery or theft. In Ahmedabad alone, 76 burglary cases targeted homes of elderly citizens, while 25 cases of intimidation and 29 cases of financial fraud were also recorded.

Overall, in 2023, a total of 184 cases of murder, robbery, kidnapping, and fraud against the elderly were registered in Ahmedabad—clear evidence that seniors in the metro city face increasing risks. Police have arrested 181 male suspects and 29 female suspects in connection with these crimes.

However, the NCRB report also highlights that many cases remain unresolved. As of now, 117 cases involving senior citizens are still pending in Ahmedabad, underscoring the urgent need for stronger safety measures to protect the elderly.