A Canada-based couple holidaying at Rosignol, West Bank Berbice was attacked and robbed in the early hours of Friday morning, when four bandits invaded the house where they were staying.
Harmattie ‘Pattie’ Narayan, 51, and Nazar Azad, 55, were beaten after they initially refused to hand over their valuables to the bandits, who were armed with two guns, although one appeared to have been a replica.
“We came so many times and this never happened to us,” said Azad, who hoped that the police would catch the culprits. He, was, however, disappointed that although the attack occurred near the Blairmont Police Station, police could not get to the scene because “they did not have a vehicle” at the time.
The bandits stole gold jewellery as well as CDN$3,200 and US$200 in the home invasion, which occurred around 1 am on Friday at the home of the couple’s son.
The overseas-based couple and their 15-year-old son were on the house along with their other son, Zaman Azad, 27, his reputed wife Roxanne Persaud and their baby at the time of the attack.
One of the bandits entered through a bedroom window of the flat-house. He then opened the veranda door and let the others in.
When the bandits entered the house, they dragged the couple, Zaman and his family out of their rooms. The 15-year-old was spared the ordeal because the bandits “did not notice him on the bed under the comforter.”
Persaud recalled that one of the bandits was outside keeping watch, while the other three were cursing and demanding money and jewellery. They had also placed a gun to her head.
They also grabbed knives from the kitchen and used one to inflict injuries to Narayan’s left hand because she was shouting and alerting the neighbours. Her initial insistence that “we don’t have anything” resulted in the men attacking her and hitting her repeatedly to the head. They also cut down the hammock and attempted to tie her up with the rope.
Azad said he eventually took one of the bandits into their room and handed over the bag that contained the cash because he could not bear to see them battering his wife. The man recalled that the bandit took a long time to find the wallet with the money and inflicted more blows to his head and left side.
Persaud said that their neighbours heard the commotion and became alerted when the bandit who was on the lookout told his accomplice to “hurry and get out because the people putting on their lights.” The men then fled.
The family was finding it difficult to get over the terrifying ordeal on Friday.
Azad said a neighbour contacted the Blairmont Police Station and was told to call the police at Fort Wellington. She did and they arrived at the scene shortly after the bandits left and conducted investigations.
Later officers from the Blairmont station took statements from the couple and their family.
