Alarming rise in crime rates against seniors

Sir,

As a senior citizen, I wish to express my deep anguish over the alarming rise in crimes against hapless seniors, occurring almost every day in broad daylight on the busy roads of Mysuru.

Mysuru has long been regarded as a safe retirement haven, attracting many seniors to settle here in the fag end of their lives. However, the current spike in crime rates is deeply disturbing — a situation unheard of even in metros like Bengaluru or Chennai.

I am sure Star of Mysore articles are read by the Police personnel and it is high time that the Mysuru Police put in place a systematic action plan to instil confidence among the public.

One effective solution could be an SOS mobile application, allowing citizens to call the Police with just the press of a button, instantly sending their location and phone number to the control room. Such apps are already in use in several cities, especially for the safety of women.

While self-help is the best help, elders and women should also be equipped with basic self-defence tools such as SOS sirens, pepper spray or even a sturdy bamboo stick to protect themselves in emergencies.

Most importantly, the public must not turn a blind eye to such crimes happening in broad daylight. Instead, passersby should come forward to help those in need and prevent criminals from acting with impunity.

I sincerely hope to see a concrete action plan from the authorities at the earliest, to restore Mysuru’s reputation as a safe and peaceful city.

— S. Sekar

Agrahara

23.9.2025