Bhubaneswar police have issued a detailed elderly safety advisory after the murder of a 76-year-old woman, urging senior citizens living alone to limit cash and jewellery kept at home, verify visitors and domestic workers, and strengthen basic home security.
Police Commissioner S Dev Datta Singh said senior citizens should retain only the cash required for daily expenses and keep valuable items in bank lockers or other secure facilities. He said regular exposure to cash or jewellery could create temptation and lead to wrongdoing, even when people working in or around a household have no known criminal record.
The advisory follows the murder of Kunjalata Nanda, who police said was killed for gain by her caretaker, Balabhadra Maharana. According to Singh, Maharana had no known criminal antecedents and had been engaged about five months earlier through a person known to the family for several years.
“Senior citizens living alone should adopt basic safety precautions. Avoid keeping substantial amounts of cash or jewellery at home,” Singh said. He added that background verification of domestic workers remained important but could not completely eliminate the risk of crime because some offenders may be accused of wrongdoing for the first time.
Police have advised elderly residents to carry a valid identity card, avoid discussing financial matters in front of strangers or domestic staff, and remain cautious about sharing personal or financial information. They have also urged residents to verify the identity of visitors, repair workers and service providers before allowing them into their homes.
The advisory specifically cautions residents against permitting unknown people or relatives of household staff to enter their homes without proper verification. At the same time, police asked residents to treat domestic workers respectfully while maintaining appropriate caution about access to personal information and valuables.
For residents living alone, police recommended regular contact with trusted neighbours and housing society officials. They also suggested installing CCTV cameras, video doorbells, door alarms and safety chains, while advising residents not to keep spare keys in obvious locations.
The measures place neighbourhood-level support alongside household security. Police have asked senior citizens to keep emergency contact numbers, including those of family members, doctors and emergency services, readily accessible. The advisory does not suggest that any single precaution can guarantee safety, but sets out steps intended to reduce exposure to preventable risks and improve access to help during an emergency.
