By Dacia Whaul
Following the wounding of an Enmore businessman during an attack by robbers at his home on Sunday, a religious leader has warned that the community could be under siege if authorities do not act to dismantle “dope gangs” in the area.
But despite the attack on Chandradat Purnadatt, who was chopped about his body by three men at his Logwood business, both the police and the chairman of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) say that crime is not a major issue in the area.
Pandit Purnadatt disagrees. He has issued a call for the acting Commission-er of Police Seelall Persaud and Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee to intervene to arrest what he described as an increase in criminality at Enmore.
At approximately 8pm on Sunday, as Chandradat Purnadatt, also known as “Sunil,” was closing his business, three men armed with a cutlass approached him and demanded money, according to his father.
Purnadatt senior said that the men rushed into the establishment but Sunil resisted, only to be beaten and dealt several chops about his body. The man’s wife, was showering at the time, heard his screams and a few seconds later he ran through the house bloodied. The traumatised woman said that her husband only escaped death because neighbours turned on their lights and came out of their houses to see what was happening and, as a result, the bandits fled the scene.
Sunil was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was admitted and underwent emergency surgery for a gaping wound he received on his left hand. A report was made to the Enmore Police Station and statements have been taken from the injured man, among others.
Up to yesterday no arrests had been made but the police were continuing the investigation, Crime Chief Leslie James said.
However, in a letter to the editor published in yesterday’s edition of Stabroek News, Pandit Purnadatt mentioned that the once active community policing group is now reduced to a few who patrol the area weekly. In addition, the father vented his concerns about Enmore being overrun “by about 11 gangs of dope peddlers” and further expressed his fear of the community coming under siege, if the relevant authorities do not intervene. “I am sure the police, both at Enmore and at Cove & John know these gangs. Why are they not doing anything about it? …These young bandits are using crowbars and cutlasses today. Tomorrow they will use guns,” he said, while appealing to the Minister of Home Affairs and to the Commissioner of Police to intervene to smash the dope gangs or Enmore would be under siege very soon.
However, when asked about a rise in criminality in the community, James told this publication that officers in the ‘C’ Division (East Coast) are conducting regular patrols and raids. In fact, James said, the crime rate has reduced in the division and he suggested that the attack on the Pandit’s son does not indicate a rise in crime but may be an isolated case.
The chairman of the Hope/Enmore NDC Jadunauth Bhikhari added that he was not of the belief that crime is a major issue plaguing the community. “I think that there are petty crimes in the area… but not out of control,” he told this newspaper, while noting that the council is concerned about those crimes being carried out.
He added that the Community Policing Group is active but conceded that the numbers are few. Bhikari explained that some young men take turns patrolling in the evenings in the village. However, he said the hours that might be needed to patrol cannot be offered by the volunteers because they have families and jobs that they have to go to.
