-claims false, police say
A Mahaicony rancher is accusing police of invading his home, harassing his family and firing shots at his two sons over a report of damage of property on Tuesday evening — charges that Commander of Police ‘C’ Division Balram Persaud yesterday called “false.”
Motielal Rajcomar, 65, told Stabroek News yesterday that police from the Mahaicony Police Station entered his ranch after a man, with whom he has had a long standing feud, made a report that his two sons had “chopped up he step railing.” Police, Rajcomar claims, discharged six shots at his sons, who then fled and remained missing up to late yesterday afternoon.
The man, who appeared to be terrified, said five heavily armed police officers arrived at his ranch on Tuesday evening in a vehicle. Rajcomar claimed that one of the officers, who he said he knew was a sergeant, fired six shots at his sons Basdeo and Jeetindra Rajcomar. “I can’t really tell you if my son them get injured or not because after the police fire the shot they jump on a bicycle and ride away and I ain’t see them back up to now,” the distressed father alleged.
However, when contacted about the issue ‘C’ Division Commander Persaud denied the allegations. According to Persaud, the Mahaicony Police Station is understaffed and relies heavily on the help of the Rural Police. Therefore, he said, it is not possible that such a large number of ranks would have been at Rajcomar’s residence.
Persaud confirmed that police did receive a report from someone that Rajcomar’s son chopped his steps. Police pursued the man, the commander reported, and he was subsequently caught and is in police custody. The man will be charged shortly with damage to property. At no time, Persaud further stressed, did police fire any shots. “This information is false,” Persaud stated referring to Rajcomar’s allegations.
When informed about Commander Persaud’s statement, Rajcomar insisted his allegations were true. The police, the man said, were on his property for almost two hours on Tuesday evening and terrorised his family. “I am telling you,” the man said, “that these police were there and they come with big, big gun and they shoot at my son dem six time and had my grandchildren dem frighten,” he declared.
Rajcomar also claimed that the police who were at his ranch that evening were under the influence of alcohol and in the company of the complainant. However, after the shots were fired, causing Basdeo and Jeetindra to flee, the man further alleged, the police left and returned with the bicycle. “Well after them come back with the bicycle my big son Deonarine tell them [police] that it was his bicycle and if you see how they treat he…this sergeant knock he and tell he to shut up,” Rajcomar alleged, “and tell we that he de Sergeant at the station and do what he want.”
The police, Rajcomar further alleged, left his premises after the two hour scene and again returned at 3am yesterday morning. “They drive through my ranch and damage up my things and keep a set ah noise and had my wife and grandchildren frighten frighten in the house,” the man alleged.
