The battered body of a Mon Repos businessman bearing several stab wounds was discovered at his home yesterday morning and his two sons and a daughter-in-law have been held by police.
Dead is Pooran Lalchand, 59, called ‘Sparrow’ of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, who lived alone.
Police said three persons, who they did not identify, were taken into custody as part of the investigation. Stabroek News was told that Lalchand’s two sons, Curt and Shawn, as well as his daughter-in-law were the persons taken into custody.
A source indicated that Lalchand’s body bore at least five stab wounds and a knife was removed from the man’s body at the hospital while his head appeared to be bashed in.
Neighbours told Stabroek News that they did not hear anything strange nor did they notice any suspicious actions.
“I come out about 6:30AM and I hear the big man coughing but I notice all over was close up. At the time, it had a drunk man called ‘Dentist’ in front the man yard, so, I tell he fuh call fuh Sparrow,” a neighbour recounted.
He said Lalchand responded to the call and indicated to ‘Dentist’ that he was in the washroom.
The neighbour said he was saddened about the news, since he knew Lalchand well. He described him as a quiet person who did not interfere with anybody.
The neighbour noted that he is very sorry that he was not given a chance to offer any help to Lalchand. The man said he left for work and heard about the discovery during the course of the morning.
It was not normal for Lalchand to have his house locked at that time of the morning, since the businessman, who operates a shop under his house, is the first to open in the village, the neighbour added. Other villagers said they were also at a loss over the discovery, since it was doubtful that the motive might have been a robbery.
“It can’t be robbery, is far more than that… they gat deep, deep problem, is a family thing,” one villager noted. Some pointed out that the man’s property was the subject of a dispute that was before the court.
When Stabroek News visited Lalchand’s home, it was cordoned off and locked but a party of police arrived and entered the home, where they made checks and took photographs. The businessman had lived alone since his wife died about three years ago.
