Cop’s transfer stopped after 90-yr-old’s plea

Raj Soni, 90, lives alone in her house in Lajpat Nagar. With crimes against senior citizens on the rise, she was afraid to even answer the doorbell till about three years back, when Ram Avtar, 31, was posted as the beat constable in the area.

Soni's only son died over two decades ago. She had already lost her husband then. Her two daughters are married — one is settled in the United States and the other in Uttam Nagar, in West Delhi.

Avtar's arrival in the area filled a void in Soni's life. Their relationship, which began as part of the Delhi Police's senior citizens scheme, developed into an emotional bond. Avtar took Soni to the hospital for her check-ups, ensured she took her medicines and even helped her with household errands.

"When I first visited her almost three years ago, she did not even open the door. I visited her everyday and earned her trust. Slowly, she started treating me like her own son," recalled Avtar. "Now, if I am busy and unable to visit her, despite being half blind, she comes to the police station in a rickshaw and scolds me for not coming for lunch," he said.

But on January 3 this year, Avtar received his transfer order. On January 9, after his transfer was finalised, Avtar informed Soni. "She is like a grandmother to me. I was really upset that I would have to leave her. She said she would not allow this to happen and would speak to my seniors," he said.

"I was really touched, but I told her that the constable who would replace me would be equally caring. But she refused to listen," he added.

That same evening, Soni caught a rickshaw and went to the district headquarters, where she met ACP (Southeast) Ajay Chaudhary. She asked him to cancel Avtar's transfer order.

... contd.

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