India Shining: NRI Bhindians burn 85 year old grandmother to death

Daily News: Forcing Indians to look in the mirror

85-year-old Indian woman burnt to death

http://www.indianexpress.com/story/291179.html

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Durban:
An octogenarian Indian-origin woman was allegedly murdered during the weekend, sending shockwaves across the community in Durban.

Ponniamma Moodley, 85, a resident of Chatsworth, an area dominated by Indians, succumbed to burn injuries at hospital over the weekend when her house caught fire.

The police were called to investigate Moodley's death after hospital authorities suspected foul play, media reports said. Captain Edmund Singh of the local Chatsworth Police said they had already questioned family members in connection with Moodley's death but no arrests had been made.

"We have questioned the daughter and granddaughter of the deceased," he said.

The death of the women has raised an alarm within the community, with some people expressing their concerns about the neglect and abuse of the elderly people. "We in the Indian community have always taken pride in taking care of our elders but with the changing economic and social climate, it seems we are forgetting our culture," said Alan Nadasen, a local resident.