Financial crimes against elderly up by 35%: NCRB

By: Manvi Vyas
HYDERABAD: Crimes against senior citizens in Telangana have seen a sharp rise by 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.

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 made up 435 cases, while fraud accounted for 423, indicating growing economic exploitation of senior citizens.

Theft emerged as the second most reported offence with 393 cases, highlighting how the elderly are increasingly being targeted for monetary gain. Another 1,051 cases were booked under various other IPC/BNS offences.

Violent crimes, however, remained comparatively 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.

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.”