78-year-old woman abused over petty issue

A video being circulated on social media showed a 78-year-old widow, a retired schoolteacher and resident of Gokul Vihar, Haibowal, being allegedly abused by her neighbour over a trivial issue. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, has raised concerns over the safety of elderly persons in the city. In the video, the woman’s neighbour and his wife are seen arguing with the senior citizen, hurling abuses at her and throwing flowerpots kept outside her house.

The man, however, has claimed that the elderly woman was a “psycho”, staying in an unsafe house, about which he had earlier complained to the Municipal Corporation. He alleged that the woman had rented the place for “wrong activities”.

He said after these activities were stopped, she began filing false complaints to “take revenge”.

Meanwhile, talking to The Tribune, the old woman, Sudershan Bajaj, said she was staying with her daughter in Gokul Vihar, Bari Haibowal. She recalled that in 2015, her neighbour, Manish Walyat, began parking two cars outside her house. For nearly a year, she did not object but later she sought intervention from neighbours, after which one of the vehicles belonging to his relative was removed. Since then, she alleged, relations between them soured and she and her daughter were being harassed regularly.

On the other hand, Manish said the elderly woman was “mentally disturbed” and a habitual complainer. He admitted that he and his wife removed flowerpots placed outside her house “in anger”, accusing her of blocking the road. He claimed that the woman cursed his children and allegedly pushed his wife, after which an MLR was conducted at the Civil Hospital.

The woman denied all allegations, saying CCTV footage showed who had created the ruckus. She also alleged that her neighbour was a SAD leader and he used his influence to intimidate them.

Such incidents have again highlighted the vulnerability of senior citizens staying alone. Many elderly people avoid raising their issues publicly due to social stigma or fear of reprisals.

Amarjit Singh (name changed), a 68-year-old senior citizen whose family stays in Canada, said he preferred staying in the country despite living alone. In case of emergency, he said, a few cousins and a 24-hour caretaker were his only support system. He visits his family abroad for a couple of months each year but they refuse to return to India.

A 35-year-old man reportedly sold his house and sent his mother to an old-age home in Doraha. Though the woman has adjusted to her new surroundings and enjoys the company of friends of her age, she is unable to overcome the trauma of being abandoned by her son.

Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma said the police frequently receive distress calls from elderly citizens, most of whom request that their names and identities be kept confidential due to fear and social pressure. “We try to resolve their issues at the earliest to provide them a sense of safety,” he said.

Ludhiana