Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Ranjit Kumar Mishra issued a directive to all field officials to gather information about realtors trying to wrest property from empty nesters.

According to sources, these realtors adopt different strategies with the aged - either by pressuring them or using coaxing tactics - to make them sell off their property.

The station house officers (SHOs) have been asked to collect inputs from watchmen and constables, who move around in localities, about such elderly people who are facing problems for being owners of immovable assets. The cops would then visit the people to listen to their grievances.

Sharing details, the SSP said the idea was conceived after he received complaints from many NRIs, among others, through e-mails and text messages in which they narrated how their parents were being pressured to sell their property by realtors.

He said: 'It has also come to light that sometimes these realtors, in a bid to put pressure on empty nesters, implicate them in false cases so that they could be coaxed into selling their property.'

He added: 'Some of these elderly people visited me and complained how realtors were putting pressure on them to sell off their properties. Alarmed by these developments, I issued the directive to the field officials.'

Mohammad Mushir Ahmad, an NRI working in Saudi Arabia, said: 'I have sent an application to the SSP requesting him to protect my parents from some relatives, who are threatening them to give a part of their property or be implicated in some case.'

Ramavatar Prasad (63) of Hathori village, Vijay Rai (67) of Deoriya, Ramraji Sahni (76) of Piyar village and several other elderly persons called on the SSP on Thursday, urging him to take up the matter.

'I have been implicated in a criminal case. I have also received threats from one Ram Balak Singh owing to a land dispute. My son works in New Delhi. He has spoken to the SSP over phone requesting him to protect us,' said Ramavatar in a choked voice.

The officer said: 'SHOs have been given a month's time to prepare details of elderly persons staying under their respective areas of jurisdiction. Then the SHO would have to interact and fix a date according to the convenience of the officers. He would then have to listen to their complaints and initiate speedy action against the wrongdoers and tormentors.'

He added: 'Officers would have to keep details, including the cellphone numbers of the aged people, to keep in touch and for further investigation.'