Panchkula, Aug. 11 -- The city has around 1,800 senior citizens living alone or with their spouses while there are only 394 police-verified domestic helps, in city, police data has revealed. This comes amid a police drive to identify vulnerable senior citizens in the aftermath of the alleged murder of a 72-year-old woman, wife of a retired Army Captain, by her domestic help in Sector 21. Police have stepped up their outreach and verification drive for senior citizens living alone or with their spouses. According to official records, only 394 Panchkula residents got their domestic helps verified between 2021 and 2025. In the first seven months of this year, only 53 residents came forward for such verification. In comparison, the district police received 17,546 applications for tenant verification over the past five years, while 2,495 such applications were received in the first seven months of this year. DCP (crime) Amrinder Singh said the drive was initiated on the directions of commissioner of police Pankaj Nain. Each police station has been directed to compile details of senior citizens living alone within its jurisdiction, with police personnel visiting their homes for verification. The police are also taking assistance from residents welfare associations (RWAs). As part of the exercise, beat constables and special agents (SAs) are conducting verification under the supervision of SHOs. Police teams are collecting details such as the names and ages of senior citizens, their previous professions, contact numbers and family details. A dedicated police helpline number is also being shared with senior citizens, the DCP said. The police are also focusing on surveillance and verification measures in residential areas. Efforts are being made to ensure that sufficient CCTV cameras are installed in these areas to help identify strangers and anti-social elements. The DCP said police were also verifying food delivery partners and checking their identities as part of the security measures for senior citizens. Identity cards are being issued to auto-rickshaw drivers carrying their details, with around 600 drivers verified so far. Their verification has now been made mandatory. Besides this, police teams are conducting verification of people residing in unauthorised roadside shanties as part of the wider security exercise. Captain Subhash Chandra, president of the RWA, Sector 2, said the police should organise verification camps in different sectors for domestic helps and tenants, as some senior citizens are not comfortable using computers and are unable to travel due to age or health-related issues....