Nazim Khan was admitted to the hospital’s Burn Care Unit some time after 3 am yesterday. A neighbour who lives directly behind Khan’s home said that he was trapped in the house after he allegedly set it ablaze. Minutes earlier his wife, Reena Baychan, had grabbed their baby and ran into the Cane Grove Police Station located opposite their home.
A resident, who wished to remain unnamed, told Stabroek News that the fire started at approximately 2 am yesterday. Khan, they said, had been drinking on Saturday evening at a shop “up the road” from his house. The couple operated a shop from their home and millions worth in goods, cash and other valuables were consumed in the fire.
“When he come home he start to argue with Reena,” the neighbour recalled, “and he start beating she…when I look over I see he got she on de back step beating she”.
This, Baychan’s relatives said, was not the first time the man had beaten the woman. Not too long ago the couple, according to them, was in court for an assault matter. Khan had allegedly beaten Baychan and some of her relatives while he was under the influence of alcohol. However, Baychan believed that her reputed husband had changed and they subsequently reunited.
“I can’t lie,” the unnamed neighbour said, “because you got to give jack it jacket. He [Khan] was a very respectful man. Whenever I go into the shop and he sell me something he would tell me thanks. Look up to yesterday afternoon [Saturday] we were laughing and gaffing like normal…he was nice but when he drink he was a different person.”
Baychan, the neighbour recalled, managed to escape from her reputed husband and ran into the yard. The woman played hide and seek with the “drunken” man and managed to get into their home and “scramble” their daughter.
“After she scramble de baby she run over to de police station across de road,” the neighbour said. “Only one policeman was there at de time and he lock de station gate and tell Nazim to stay out.”
Being denied access to his wife Khan became enraged, hopped into his minibus and drove it out to the main road, residents said. Minutes after the man drove right into a drain which added fuel to his rage, residents said. Khan returned to the station gate at this point and started to shout and then suddenly rushed back to his house.
“…I see this fireball and start to scream…”
Shortly after, the neighbour said, fire began spreading rapidly down the rear stairs with Khan trapped inside.
“We started to scream but nobody couldn’t hear because music been blaring from couple wedding houses in the area,” the neighbour recalled. “We realize then Nazim was in the house but we couldn’t do anything.”
The houses in the area are situated close to each other and panic quickly spread through residents. A woman who lives behind Khan said she was directing her relatives to throw mud water on her wooden home when she saw “a big fireball pitching” through a rear window of Khan’s burning house.
“I look up and see a big fireball pitching through the window. I see this fireball and start to scream cause I say is done me house done to but when I catch meself I see de thing land in Nazim backyard and start moving around. Is only them I realize is he this fire been all over.”
The woman said that most of Khan’s body was bloody and as she rushed to his side the only words he said were “Aunty [the woman’s name] save you house”. Khan collapsed, the woman said, and those were the last words anyone heard from him. He was carried to another neighbour’s yard and then rushed to the hospital.
Hospital sources reported at press time that the man was in a critical condition. Stabroek News was unable to contact Baychan, who residents said, was staying with relatives.
The house belonged to Baychan’s grandparents, one tearful relative said yesterday afternoon. Baychan’s father was responsible for the wooden two-storey structure and had allowed the woman and her husband to live there.
