This year, 2014, seems to be ending on a bad note for the small Parsi-Irani community whose members have begun talking about their security and feel the need to own licensed weapons. Ardeshir Mehta, who has a farmhouse between Dahanu and Gholvad, says that having a licensed gun can be the only deterrent. "Each farm has at least 1,500 trees. If someone sneaks into the farm, it is likely that they go unnoticed," said Mehta.
The couple—Naushir Irani (76) and his wife Nargis (74)—were killed on their farmhouse spread over 15 acres of chikoo plantation in Vangaon of Dahanu taluka. The accused, Ravi Thakur (30), gained entry into the farm almost two days before the murder on December 9.
Till a month ago, the chikoo growers used to move freely on their land without any fear. The Irani couple's murder opened their eyes to dangers lurking in their backyard.
"The murder opened our eyes. We now realize how vulnerable we are. We will discuss ways and means in which our families, who live on the farms, are protected," said Shahrukh Irani, who has a lychee farm in Gholvad.
Bomi Irani, who has a farmhouse in Dahanu city, admits that the couple's murder has made him a lot more alert. "Three years ago, the watchman at one of my farms was killed. The killers are still unknown," said Bomi, who got a licensed weapon 15 years ago after he had to fight intruders on his farm. Bomi says he now feels confident of taking on thieves because of the weapon.
Farm owners say that since the last several years not a single weapon licence has been issued. "It is ridiculous that a senior citizen has to get a fitness certificate to get a weapon licence, said a farm owner from Dahanu.
Farm owners say they may have to think of a strong room in their bungalows where they can escape in case of danger and call for help. "The police carries out night patrolling, most farms have dogs let loose in the night but these measures may not be enough," said Achyut Patil, a farm owner from Bordi. In the '70s and '80s, dacoits struck in the villages, now most of the crimes are carried out by known people, said Patil.
The newly formed Palghar district police is in the process of setting up a helpline number for senior citizens. Police officials say that once the elderly are registered with the local police station, it will be easier to keep tabs on them. As of now, there is no data on the number of elderly people staying alone in farmhouses and flats in the Palghar-Dahanubelt.
Farm owners are also discussing the need to instal CCTV cameras in their bungalows and leave the monitoring to their family and friends living in the cities.
Iranis had moved to Dahanu in the 1860s and started chikoo farming. Today, as the younger generation has moved away, most farmhouses have elderly occupants. Of these, barely 5% of old-timers have weapon licence. While getting a new licence is difficult, renewing an old one is equally difficult.
Said a farm owner, "It takes nothing less than two years to renew a licence. I don't think anyone in this belt has got a new licence for years together."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=Senior citizen couple,Palghar district police,Murder,Dahanu farmhouse,Bungalows
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