Mumbai, September 11: A day after 55-year-old Lalita Pinge was murdered, residents of Shivaji Park, a quaint upper middle class residential area of the city, expressed shock at the incident on Tuesday.

According to the police, Pinge was found dead by her son on Monday evening in her ground-floor apartment in Parag building on Cadell Road. Local residents say such incidents are rare.

“This entire area is safe. I read about the murder in the newspaper. It was shocking. Such incidents are rare. I come for a walk at 4 am and also in the evening. Police patrol the area regularly,” said Manohar Sawant, 70, a resident of Tarang Cooperative Society.

Agreed 85-year-old Pramila Valanju who has been living in the area for more than 20 years. “I have never faced any problems. I like staying here,” said the Yug Prabhat society resident while watching her granddaughter play in the nearby garden.

Sukumar Desai, 60, a resident of Kalpak society, had a slightly different opinion: “Robberies in unoccupied flats are common over here. But murder is very rare.” Agreed his friend R S Paralkar, 74, of Bhatia building: “There have been incidents of chain and bag-snatching, especially on MB Raut Road.” But both agreed that by and large Shivaji Park was safe.

Deputy Commissioner of Police D M Phadtare said they had made a list of senior citizens in this area, which was reviewed every week to make changes, if necessary. “In fact, we made some changes last month. Once a week, we conduct visits to apartments in the area where senior citizens reside. By talking to them, we get to know of their problems and take down their suggestions. We also make it a point to speak to the security guards of these societies. The residents feel secure because we carry out this exercise regularly,” he said.

Narayan Smriti building resident Chandrakant Joshi (70), who lives with his wife as his children are settled in the US, said: “We have filled a senior citizen form. Every week someone from the police station comes and makes enquires. We feel secure because of this.” But he added that staying in a chawl was much safer than staying in flats. He has been a Dadar resident since 1954 and regularly comes for walks to Shivaji Park. “The police have provided us with contact numbers. This is a very good move,” said 70-year-old Yashwant Thite. About the murder, he said, “This is just one incident. Otherwise, Shivaji Park is secure,” he said.