CHENNAI: "Personal safety is now a big
concern for old people like us, and my wife is already worried if we should move
to a flat from our old house," said 70-year old Natesan, who was one of the many
who gazed in stunned horror at the house on Dr Natesan Road in K K Nagar where
the triple murder took place on Thursday night. Although the debate over
independent houses versus apartments is not a new one, there has been growing
concern over safety of the elderly living alone.
"That people can
walk in and murder you at night is shocking, and it is unlikely that such a
crime could have occurred in an apartment block," said Chitra Nagappan, a
financial consultant. The gory crime has shaken up even the young residents of
the locality. "I have lived here for nearly 15 years, and until now we have not
had even minor crimes," said C K Neelakandan, a resident of 18th Avenue, Ashok
Nagar. "It looks like any other house in Chennai," he added,
thoughtfully.
Built a couple of decades ago, the house that even
school children gaped at, is a typical Chennai ‘bungalow', with a sense of
space. Wide sunshades, deep balconies, wrought iron grilles to discourage
burglars, plenty of windows for cross ventilation - it's a house built by a
well-placed upper middle class family with due regard for comfort and safety.
"Most of our children have gone away to other cities and countries,
and most bungalows are like ghost homes," said Srimathy, a resident of CIT
Colony, Mylapore. Pointing out that the average age of most security guards is
55, Srimathy says they are unlikely to frighten off even a mouse. "With good
security detail costing close to Rs 15,000, the option of an apartment with
controlled access is very appealing at the moment," she added.
"I
have lived in an independent house all my life, but since the general impression
is that security guards are likely to unwittingly disclose your daily routine
over casual chat, I have resisted appointing one," said 71-year old C Sampath, a
resident of Shastri Nagar. But, after a spate of thefts in the area, he opted
for a caretaker. "I had to visit my son in the US for six months, and although
this was not the best of arrangements, we thought it would be a deterrent,"
Sampath added.
"Managing a house is becoming unwieldy and if you are
over 55 years, it is better to retire from a house to a flat," said R Krishna.
He and his three brothers lived in a joint family for 50 years. "When all our
children left for USA and Australia, we decided to sell the five ground property
in Kodambakkam and moved to apartments in T Nagar. It is a decision we do not
regret," added Krishna, who is set to go on a holiday in the US.
However, not all are hitting the panic button. "We never lock up and
go away, and since my aged parents and brother live in the same compound, a
house in Chennai is the best option," said Anu S, who lives in a sprawling
bungalow on Eldmas Road. It is a sentiment shared by Geeta Radhakrishnan, who
lives in Besant Avenue. "Outsiders coming and killing you in your sleep rarely
happens in Chennai. If you have a good system of screening people and not
letting anyone gain your confidence, it is unlikely that you will come to
grief," Geeta said.
"Many of us get irritated when grandparents do
not trust even a delivery boy to cross your threshold, but it is a caution worth
cultivating. Chennai is still as safe as a house," she added.