-vehicle riddled with bullets
A man died yesterday on the UNAMCO trail when the vehicle in which he was travelling came under a hail of gunfire from gunmen.
The dead man was identified as Thakur Persaud of Old Road, Sara Johanna, East Bank Demerara. Persaud was in vehicle BKK 8654, along with his two employees Ravi Deobarran and Solomon Low-A-Chee. The trio was said to be heading to a mining operation some 50 to 60 miles up the Berbice River from Kwakwani which lies just below the Itabu Falls when they noticed a fallen tree in their path.
The men had reportedly stopped and disembarked the vehicle in order to remove the tree when they suddenly came under heavy gunfire from an unknown number of gunmen.
Stabroek News understands that after hearing the shots the two men ran in different directions into the forest in a bid to escape. After staying in hiding for some two to three hours, the men returned to their vehicle which had been ransacked. It was then they realised the lifeless bullet-riddled body of their boss, Persaud, was lying on the ground outside of the vehicle. It was unclear if he was shot on leaving the vehicle.
One of the two survivors related that the key was still in the ignition. They then left Persaud on the trail as they were unsure of what to do, turned the vehicle around and headed back to the Kwakwani Police Station to make a report about the attack.
Residents at the Kwakwani crossing told this newspaper that the vehicle had in excess of 18 bullet holes which appeared to have been made by high-powered weapons.
One resident of Kwakwani said that he was on his way out of the UNAMCO trail when he noticed the vehicle going at what he described as “top speed, as if they were crazy.” It was not until he had gotten to the crossing that he was made aware by other residents of what had transpired. Other persons confirmed that the vehicle was taken to the Kwakwani Police Station.
Though the vehicle had been ransacked, it is unclear what was taken.
Stanley Low-A-Chee, father of Solomon Low-A-Chee, last night said he was told of the death of Persaud by his son. The older Low-A-Chee said that he had no details surrounding the incident except for the fact that his son along with Persaud and Deobarran had come under a hail of heavy gunfire. Low-A-Chee said that members of the family had travelled to Kwakwani to assist with investigations.
This area came into prominence last year during the hunt for the gang headed by Rondell `Fineman’ Rollins. There were several deadly clashes between the police and a gang of gunmen at Christmas Falls and areas along the road. Matters escalated further when the bodies of eight miners were found at Lindo Creek.
Up to press time there had been no word from the police on the attack on trail yesterday. (Additional reporting by Femi Harris)
