The Brazilian dredge owner, who was shot by bandits at Arangoy, Cuyuni on Monday has been admitted to the open ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital after undergoing surgery to remove the bullets.

Meantime, this newspaper was told that Joint Services ranks remain in the area but it is not certain if they have so far managed to apprehend anyone. 32-year-old Edmilson De Souza Arango was admitted to the open ward of the medical institution after undergoing surgery on Monday night.

Earlier that day, at about 6:30 am, six men armed with guns entered his camp at Arangoy and demanded gold and cash from him and his employees. During the ordeal, he was shot in the back and in the left arm. The bandits, who were reportedly wearing masks and were armed with “AK-47 and small guns”, also beat his employees.

The police, in a statement had said that in the camp at the time were Arango’s wife, Maria Chaves Silva and five workers, comprising three Guyanese and two Brazilians. “The men began to assault Chaves Silva and the five workers using their firearms while demanding gold. During this, Edmilson De Souza Arango approached the camp and was shot and injured to his upper back. The armed men then took away a quantity of raw gold from the workers and escaped,” the police had said. After looting the camp, the bandits escaped with passports, gold scales, metal detectors, clothing and a small quantity of raw gold, Arango said yesterday.

It is the second such attack in that area within a year.  Last June, another Brazilian miner, who was attached to another camp in the same area, was shot five times by bandits. Jose Leache, 46, had sustained wounds to his abdomen, both thighs and left hand. Earlier in 2008, in February, he had been similarly attacked.