Vazifdar's body was discovered at 9 am today, by a neighbour who found the door to his first floor apartment at Awabai Mansion, Hendry Road, off Colaba Causeway, open and the octogenarian cardiologist lying in the passage in a pool of congealed blood. He had been stabbed seven times, in the neck and chest region. Police found the blood-stained knife and uniforms belonging to the watchmen, Prakash Choudhari and Santosh Pandey, in a ditch at the far end of the road.

Preliminary investigations fix the time of death between 11.30 pm on Sunday, when Vazifdar returned home after attending to a patient, and 9 am today. He was last seen driving away to visit a patient at around 9.30 pm on Sunday. Farida Dubash, the neighbour who discovered the body,intimated Vazifdar's brother Menu and another relative, who in turn informed the police.

Vazifdar had been residing alone at Awabai Mansion, about 100 meters from the Colaba police station, ever since his divorce from Mehar Patel about 20 years ago. His body will be kept at Breach Candy Hospital till his son returns from abroad, relatives say.

Investigating Officer, Sub-Inspector Arjun Kenjale, says both watchmen on duty were absconding, which made them prime suspects. Their suspicions were confirmed when the knife and uniforms were discovered abandoned in a ditch.Assistant commissioner of police (Colaba division) U G A Maner told Express Newsline that the accused were identified from photographs given to the police. Their employer, Poonam Agencies, has also furnished relevant information, which could help track them down. Choudhari hails from Rajasthan and Pandey from Madhya Pradesh.

Police say robbery was established as the motive when Vazifdar's Rolex wristwatch and some jewellery was foundmissing from his apartment.

Residents of the cluster of buildings on Hendry Road were panic-stricken when news of the murder spread. An uneasy silence enveloped the neighbourhood and residents cast curious glances at the nondescript, grey apartment which overlooks the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport undertaking's headquarters.

However, a few metres away on the causeway, life continued at its usual hectic pace, the shopping thoroughfare bursting with activity. The octogenarian's murder obviously was the last thing preoccupying enthusiastic shoppers. Even the paanwallahs at the street-corner scarcely discussed the incident.

An elderly resident of Awabai Mansion told Express Newsline: ``If we are not safe even from our watchmen, who can we turn to for protection. With killers striking at will and people from all strata and of all ages being targeted, security has become almost non-existent,'' she adds.

Vazifdar's murder is the fifth instance in the last four months when thieveshave attacked senior citizens in South Mumbai. On September 10, a gang of thugs barged into 69-year-old Nariman Dubash's residence near the Gateway of India. Fortunately, he survived the attack.

On September 16, Saroj Dutta, the 62-year-old executive director of a private airline, was similarly attacked. Putting up a valiant fight, Dutta, however survived. He sustained stab wounds on his chest and neck.

But the elderly Chinoy couple, Sarabai and his wife Tasviner, where not as fortunate. They were murdered in their Churchgate residence by their domestic servant in broad daylight on August 8. Though the suspect has been arrested, police have yet to make a breakthrough in nabbing the conspirators.

On June 13, 65-year-old Uma Seth was murdered in her Usha Kiran apartment by two domestic servants. Almost all the victims were attacked when they were alone in their apartments.