Prominent local attorney Vickramaditya `Vic’ Puran died on Monday night after he apparently misjudged a turn at Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara and ended up in the canal where his vehicle turned over.
It was residents who stumbled upon the partially submerged pick-up early yesterday morning and found the 57-year-old Puran dead.
Police said in a press release that around 0645 hours Puran was found in his motor vehicle in a canal at Esau and Jacob, Mahaicony.
The release added that the body is at the Lyken Funeral Home awaiting a post mortem examination.
Police officials have ruled out foul play in the death noting that they were aware that he did not return home on Monday night.
When Stabroek News visited his home at Barr Street, Kitty relatives said that they did not wish to speak with the press.
Speaking on behalf of the family his longtime friend, attorney at law Glen Hanoman said from all indications the death was nothing more than a tragic vehicular accident. “This was a full accident. I am 100% certain”, he said.
Speaking from the scene, where the body remained for several hours before it was removed, Hanoman said the turn is an acute one and Puran might have misjudged it resulting in the wheel slipping into the trench and the vehicle turning turtle. He said that when the vehicle was found it was on its roof with the wheels in the air.
Police later turned up at the scene and after pulling the vehicle out, removed the body of Puran.
A distraught Hanoman told this newspaper that on Monday, the father of four celebrated his 57th birthday. From all indications, Puran had a quiet day and at some point decided to visit his farm located at Mahaicony to tend to his livestock.
According to Hanoman, Puran left his home just around 5:20 pm to take feed for his pigs. He recalled that Puran’s wife Amanda called him that night and informed him that the attorney had not returned home and she was unable to make contact with him.
He said that at that point, searches were conducted to locate Puran but he was not found.
Hanoman said that Amanda during her search on Monday night would have passed the area where Puran’s vehicle was but she would not have seen the submerged vehicle since that area is dark at nights.
He recalled that he last spoke with Puran last week and he was his usual jovial self.
A champion of the profession
“He was a champion. He taught me a lot”, Hanoman said adding that he knew Puran for over 25 years, which would have been before he (Puran) was admitted to the local bar. He said that Puran had strong political views and would get upset with many politicians.
Mohammed Khan, the president of the Guyana Bar Association (GBA) in an invited comment told Stabroek News while expressing condolences to the grieving relatives, that Puran’s unexpected death is “a serious blow to the profession and he will be missed”.
Another longtime friend, Attorney General Anil Nandlall said that Puran was “a brother, a friend and a colleague” who he knew before he entered the arena of law.
He noted that he started his law career with Puran. “I have had my disagreements with Vic over the years on many issues but it never affected our relations on fundamental matters either professionally or personally”, he said adding that he last spoke with Puran around 5 pm on Monday.
“I will miss Vic tremendously. He guided me and advised me on several matters. His children grew up in front of me”, he said, his voice laced with grief.
He described Puran as a competent attorney in the area of criminal law adding that the local Bar has lost a worthy member.
Meanwhile, those in attendance at the Linden Commission of Inquiry (COI) yesterday observed one minute of silence in memory of Puran. Puran on the opening day of the COI had entered an appearance for Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee but he later withdrew stating that obligations had not been met.
At the start of yesterday’s sitting attorneys at law Nigel Hughes and Basil Williams expressed shock at the death.
Hughes stated that his death was a “significant” loss to the legal fraternity.
Williams recalled that Puran “was always behind me here passing out little instructions and advice. I am very short changed now without his advice”.
Puran before entering the legal profession was political assistant to the late executive President Forbes Burnham.
He was admitted to the local Bar 22 years ago after returning from studies in London. Upon his return he worked at the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) from 1990 to 1993 before performing the duties of a magistrate until 1995.
Thereafter he joined the chambers of former Attorney General Doodnauth Singh, SC. After several years he branched off on his own setting up office in the First Federation Building on Croal Street where he remained until his death.
Puran during his private practice was the defence counsel in many high profile cases such as the Neesa Gopaul murder PI and state- appointed prosecutor in cases such as the treason case which came to an end earlier this year.
Puran also represented high profile persons such as self confessed drug lord Roger Khan who is currently serving time in a US jail and Barry Dataram.
He is one of two practising attorneys who died tragically this year. In June, Chief Executive Officer of COPS Security and former army Lieutenant Colonel Gregory Gaskin sustained internal injuries when he fell from his motorcycle at the South Dakota Circuit, Timehri. He was 54 years old.
