A Brazilian miner was on Sunday beaten by gunmen who invaded a mining camp at Puruni, Region Seven in what is believed to be an attempt to scare him and his brother off the land which has been the subject of a dispute for some time now.
Raimundo Malhaeo sustained a small wound to the head and a source close to him said that he was making attempts yesterday to visit the Police Headquarters at Eve Leary and the Geology and Mines Commission to report the matter.
Contacted, Divisional Com-mander Senior Superintendent Ravindradat Budhram told Stabroek News that a team was dispatched to the location after the police received a report yesterday that a man had been beaten.
Budhram stressed that though there is an allegation that the incident stemmed from a land dispute that would have to be thoroughly investigated by the police.
Up to late yesterday the ranks had not returned and as such the commander was unable to provide more information.
Meanwhile a source close to the mining camp said that Malhaeo was transported out of the area yesterday in a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) helicopter and is expected to make a full recovery.
Stabroek News was made to understand that six gunmen and three known businessmen linked to the mining industry stormed the camp around noon.
Malhaeo who is the brother of the camp owner was in charge when the group stormed in and demanded gold.
The source said that when Malhaeo said there was no gold, he was beaten about the body and gun butted to his head.
The gunmen, the source alleged, then threatened to killed Malhaeo and the other workers if they were still there when the group returned yesterday.
According to the source, the workers at the camp said they recognized the three businessmen and this information is expected to be passed on to the police.
Camp owner Nide Carneiro Malhao was not at the camp at the said time. It was explained that he had bought four mining blocks for $60 million in the Puruni area but only received paperwork for one. It was said the miner was on the block that he legally owns but that one of the businessmen had apparently sold the block to another person.
The camp owner expressed belief that the attack was to scare him off, the source said.
The police at Bartica have been informed of the incident.
Several efforts by Stabroek News to contact the businessmen alleged to be involved were unsuccessful.
