Of 56 cases under probe, only 26 disposed of; courts see high pendency and low conviction rates
PANAJI
Goa’s elderly have remained increasingly vulnerable to crime – from petty thefts to frauds – as the National Crime Records Bureau data reveal that senior citizens were the victims in 40 criminal incidents during 2023.
The State continued to witness crimes targeting its elderly since 2024 till date, with at least six murders, a case of dacoity, and nearly 40 incidents of fraud wherein senior citizens fell prey to cyber scams and financial frauds, including the ‘digital arrest’ racket.
As per the NCRB data for the year 2023 released just recently, the State registered 14 incidents of theft under Section 379 of the IPC and five cases of forgery, cheating and fraud, among others, taking the overall crime rate against senior citizens to 24.5 per lakh. Each of these 40 incidents involved a victim aged 60 or above, signalling that Goa’s ageing population is becoming a growing target for crime. The year also saw the murder of a senior citizen.
Behind the numbers, police records tell a story of slow justice and investigative strain. Out of 56 cases under probe in 2023 including those carried over from the previous year just 26 were disposed of, while 29 remained pending at year-end. The pendency rate stood at 51.8 per cent, and the chargesheeting rate at 61.5 per cent.
Seven of the pending cases were closed for lack of evidence or clues, and one was abated during investigation. The police also managed to file 13 new chargesheets in the previous year, in addition to three from older cases.
In the Courts, with 211 cases already pending trial from previous years and 16 new cases added in 2023, the numbers only grew heavier. Just one case ended in conviction, while 14 resulted in acquittals.
