Hundreds of persons turned up at Logwood, Enmore, East Coast Demerara yesterday to pay their last respects to Akbar Alli who was slain by a gunman on Thursday in the presence of his wife Rameena.
Alli was shot by one of two bandits on a motorcycle after they snatched a bag containing over $2M from his wife on Brickdam. He died shortly after while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
He was remembered by speakers, Shaykh Moenul Hack of the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana and Moulana Abu Bakr Haniff of the Guyana Islamic Trust as someone who was always smiling even if he was going through difficulties.
Hack said, “The large gathering bears testimony of the life he lived both among Muslims and non-Muslims”, Haniff said, adding “he died protecting his family…” Alli began running behind the motorcycle and the armed man then shot him in his chest.
The speakers reminded sympathizers that death can come at anytime and urged them to be prepared for it. They extended condolences to the family on behalf of their organizations.
Mourners who had gathered from various parts of the country for the funeral commented about what a “friendly, peaceful and kind” person he was.
Reports are that Alli, formerly of Bush Lot, West Berbice, would travel to Georgetown almost on a daily basis to withdraw money from a city bank to pay his workers and to buy scrap metal. From all appearances, the two bandits trailed him on a motorcycle and when the car stopped, they pounced.
Police said that Alli and his wife went to a city bank where they transacted some business. They then went to another city bank and then proceeded to Brickdam with the intention of transacting business with an auto dealer.
The father of two, ages seven and eight had parked his motor vehicle and he and his wife, who was holding a bag with the money were about to exit the vehicle when the bandits rode up. The pillion rider, who was armed with a handgun, held them up and took away the bag and the men then rode away. Alli then pursued them and the fatal shot was fired.
