A 21-year-old man was taken into custody after he reportedly torched his parents’ two-storey home at Number 59 Village, Corentyne, late Friday afternoon. He was heavily intoxicated at the time.
The couple was identified to Stabroek News as Dhanraj Rambally and Anjanie Rambally, who returned to their homeland from the US some seven months ago. Their son, Dhanraj Vekanand also known as Richie returned one year ago to Guyana.
When Stabroek News visited the village the owners of the house could not be found. However, a neighbour, Kamini Bahador, stated that she heard a commotion after which she discovered her neighbour’s home in flames. She immediately ventured outside to assist and saw the couple’s son, heavily intoxicated on the road and his father lying face down on a bridge. “When me run out me see Richie on the dam, so me holla ask he wah wrong. He bin drunk. He tell me leff am to burn is he one.”
Meanwhile, another neighbour told Stabroek News that when she ran out she asked Anjanie Rambally how the fire started and, “She tell me how she son burn down she house. She say how all she clothes in them barrel and so burn in the fire.”
Chairman of the village’s Community Policing Group Dasratt Mohabir told this newspaper that the father and son were habitual, heavy drinkers. According to the man, a lighter and a diesel container were discovered at the scene of the fire. He also stated that the couple’s son admitted to setting the fire. He explained that Vekanand said he threw fuel on a car that was parked underneath the house and lit it afire. The car then exploded, which resulted in the house being destroyed in the fire.
Neighbours said that whenever the son was heavily intoxicated he would treat his parents poorly. According to one neighbour, he was placed on bond a few months ago for allegedly assaulting his parents.
Meanwhile, according to a police source, the young man is in custody assisting with the investigation and is likely to face charges shortly.