Narayan Rai (77), a resident of Bela village in Bihta, on Tuesday took a local train to Patna and landed at Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Manu Maharaaj's office.

"Sir, my sons are troubling me. They always abuse and harass me and are trying to force me out of the house," Narayan told the SSP. "I went to the police station, too, but it seems my sons have 'managed' the officers there."

Maharaaj, who was preparing to go to the police lines, gave Narayan a patient hearing and then called up the Bihta police station house officer (SHO).

"It is a very important case and I want you to take it seriously. He shouldn't come to me again with the same complaint," the SSP said before asking a constable to accompany Narayan till Patna Junction and to ensure that he boards a train back to Bihta.

"The senior citizen's cell isn't working properly. The police have taken it very lightly. They don't realise that they too will become senior citizens one day," a frustrated SSP said.

Narayan was not the only one who came to meet the SSP. with his cup of woes.

As Maharaaj got into his official vehicle to leave, Raghunandan Prasad (75) tried to tear through the wall of constables and bodyguards surrounding him.

When he was stopped, the old man cried aloud enough to be heard.

"A group is trying to usurp my house in Khajekalan police station area," said a distraught Raghunandan after the SSP heard him out and left.

"I have been to the police station many times and am here at the SSP's office for the fourth time now. No one listens to me or helps me. I have been asked to go to the district magistrate's (DM's) office now. Please show me the way."

The SSP's frustration about the senior citizens' cell is not misplaced. Sources in the SSP's office said each day at least 7-8 sexagenarians come there with petitions.

"Many old men and women come with a wide range of complaints," said a policeman on condition of anonymity. "The cases have mostly to do with neglect, violence by children, someone trying to usurp their homes or property. Despite there being a senior citizens' cell in all police stations, the complainants land up at the SSP's office only to be sent back to the police station. It is a sad state of affairs."

Just last week, Shakuntala Devi (66) of Kankerbagh came to the SSP's office with a bandaged skull. She said her elder son had beaten her up for property and the local police station was not acting on her many pleadings. When contacted on Tuesday, an officer at the Kankerbagh police station said they needed to check on the case.

The senior citizens' cell, whose objective was to provide special treatment to senior citizens and take care of their troubles, was first formed by former Patna SSP Vikas Vaibhav last June.

Manu Maharaaj, who took over from Vaibhav,ensured that the cell continued functioning.

The Telegraph did a round of four important police stations on Tuesday to do a reality check on their functioning and friendliness to senior citizens.

"As you know, the police are always short-staffed," said a sub-inspector (SI)-rank officer at the Gandhi Maidan police station. "We do care for senior citizens and once they come here, any officer present attends to them. However, we cannot depute one special police officer or a room just for them. The police work under a lot of pressure."

"We have a special register only for them and an SI-rank officer helps them," said Pirbahore police station house officer (SHO) Nisar Ahmed. "However, as you can see, our new police station building is yet to be completed. So, as far as giving them all facilities is concerned, it is difficult at this moment."

The officer on duty at the Sachivalaya police station, Vibha Kumari, was clueless if the station even had a special cell to cater to senior citizens in its jurisdiction.

"I cannot say whether we have that facility," Vibha said. "This police station falls in a VIP area and hence there are fewer complaints. However, when I was posted at Dhanarua police station, there used to be many complaints."

At the Kotwali police station, an officer said an ASI-rank officer had been deputed for the task.

"There is no such cell. Whenever an elderly person comes, the police attend to him and take special care," he claimed.

SSP Manu Maharaaj was not convinced.

"If things are so good, why are the senior citizens complaining? The idea was to give them relief, as they are old and weak physically and mentally. I have passed an order today (Tuesday) stating that if a senior citizen comes to me and complains that the local police aren't acting, strict action, which can also mean the SHO's removal, will be taken," he told The Telegraph.