The three men who attacked police recruit Harold Haimchand Sukhai and later shot him dead on Sunday night are believed to be part of a gang that has been wreaking havoc on Tuschen New Scheme, East Bank Essequibo.
Sukhai, 25, was shot once in the chest during the attack on him and his girlfriend, who he was walking home. The bullet pierced his lungs and his heart, a post-mortem examination yesterday revealed.
Up to press time last evening, no suspect had been arrested, while the community remained in shock about the shooting and many residents were afraid to walk around at night.
Half an hour before Sukhai was fatally shot as he walked along a lonely street with his girlfriend, another man was attacked on the Tuschen main road by three men. It is suspected that same three men committed both crimes.
In the first attack, the victim, Stabroek News was told, fought off the men and they were unable to relieve him of a bag he had in his possession. The victim was left nursing several bruises from his ordeal.
Police said in a press release yesterday that Sukhai’s murder took place at about 8:30 pm while he was accompanying his girlfriend to her home. It noted that they were attacked by three men, one of whom was armed with a firearm.
“The perpetrators took away the female’s gold jewellery and her cell phone, during which Constable Harold Sukhai was shot to his chest,” the release said, while adding that he was later rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Stabroek News was told that Sukhai was left lying on the roadway for about half an hour while the police conducted their investigations.
At the time of the shooting Sukhai was returning to the police training base at Eve Leary. A bag containing his police outfit was taken from him, but it was dropped as the bandits fled.
Residents of the Tuschen community told Stabroek News yesterday that they are scared for their lives and noted that armed robberies, incidents of rape and attempted rape and break and enter and larceny have been on the increase since around the middle of last year.
They blamed the surge in crime in the area on inadequate police patrols and lack of street lights. A source said that based on investigations, the trio who killed Sukhai is part of a gang that is based at the back of the scheme at a place called the ‘Blacka.’ The source also said that based on the description given, the same men committed both attacks on Sunday.
It was explained that members of the gang continue to roam freely because of the connections some of them have and the fact that people are afraid to speak out against them.
Out of control
Residents told Stabroek News that members of the Community Policing Group (CPG) are unable to patrol at nights because they do not have a vehicle.
It was pointed out too that because of the size of the housing scheme, more than one vehicle is needed for patrolling purposes. “We feel that the policing group is ill-equipped…,” a resident said, while blaming this state of affairs for crime in the area spiralling out of control.
A resident also related that the community is plagued with domestic-related incidents where older men are in relationships with underage girls and though reports have been made to the police, charges are never laid.
Rape, the resident said, is also on the increase. This newspaper was told that two weeks ago there was a “double rape” in the community.
It was explained also that on another occasion, a woman was attacked but she fought off her attacker.
Stabroek News was told of a recent case involving a pregnant 14-year-old. It was explained that the man who impregnated her is 38 years old and while police were made aware of the situation, nothing was done.
A few residents who this newspaper spoke with said that there are many such cases in Tuschen.
“There are many things happening in here but we don’t want to come forward because we don’t trust the police,” the resident said, while calling for more patrols and street lights for the area.
Meanwhile, police visited Sukhai’s relatives and while offering words of encouragement said that he will be given a military-style funeral.
Ramdularie Bissessar said the officer who was in charge of her brother met with relatives yesterday.
She said that while she was not at the home at the time of the visit, it was related to her that the officer said that the police force would sponsor a night of wake.
She said the officer spoke highly of her brother and expressed shock at his passing.
Bissessar said the family is “grieving to the maximum.” She added that Sukhai was her only brother and she continuously stressed that “he was not a bad person” and he did not deserve such a cruel death.
Relatives told this newspaper that they have not received any information on the arrest of anyone in connection with the matter.
Sukhai will be laid to rest on Saturday.
