Secunderabad: 90-year-old goes to police, says son usurped property

SECUNDERABAD: A 90-year-old woman from Lalaguda in Secunderabad approached the police on Wednesday complaining of harassment by her son and daughter-in-law. The victim, Bazaru Bodamma, resident of North Lalaguda, Tukaramgate, has been staying in a G+2 house for the past 40 years along with her four sons. Her father had bought a 1-acre land in Karimnagar district in 1973 on her name.
The victim alleged that her second son and daughter-in-law transferred the land owned by her in their names without her consent and by illegal means, and took the original documents of the house the victim has been staying in.
“Whenever I would ask him and his wife about the land papers and original documents, they would verbally abuse me,” said the victim in her complaint. Recently, when she asked again for the documents, her son picked up an argument and assaulted the victim. “After sometime, his wife verbally abused me. She then held my neck and injured my right hand elbow with scissors and threatened me,” her complaint further revealed. Bodamma said her younger son came to her rescue when she was being assaulted by her son, after which a constable from the police station arrived at her house.
“We are yet to arrest the accused, however, we are following up on her for her safety,” said Tukaramgate SI D Srinu. Police have registered a case under Sections 325 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC.“There has been an increase in such cases in the state, especially in Hyderabad. Our survey reveals that almost 70% of the senior citizens face verbal, mental or physical abuse by their children and feel neglected. There has also been 37% rise in property snatching cases,” said Mohammed Raza, head, Helpage India, Telangana.
According to an officer from Helpage India, in the past four months alone, nearly 20 cases were registered in Secunderabad, while 50 cases were registered in Hyderabad under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.
“Most of the cases are of property disputes and abuse. There are also cases of non-payment of maintenance and medical expenses by children of senior citizens. Under the Act, a district-level tribunal is established for senior citizens to file claims for maintenance and assistance,” said Shyam Kumar, advocacy officer, Helpage India.