Armed bandits on Monday night robbed a Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara businessman and his family of millions in cash, jewellery and other valuables.
The robbery was carried out around 8pm at 25 Bagotstown Public Road, which houses both the R. Gossai Liquor and General Store and the family’s home.
The owner of the business, Rabindranauth Gossai, 63, who was gun-butted during the attack, has since been hospitalised at a private facility in the city.
According to Jeetendra Gossai, the businessman’s son, he was relaxing with his parents and his four-year-old son when the men pounced on them.
Jeetendra noted that the men gained entry to the yard after scaling the western fence. The men ordered the family members into the kitchen of the house and forced them to lie face down before tying them up. He said a gunman was left to guard them, while five others split themselves between the top and bottom flats of the house.
The son said the men ransacked the entire house and stole the day’s sales, jewellery, groceries, a DVR player and other items. He could not ascertain what were the other items stolen since they were still reorganising the house.
During the 20 to 25-minute ordeal, Jeetendra said, the men demanded additional cash from his father, whom they gun-butted.
The bandits, after collecting the valuables, dashed out of the house and exited the yard through the back gate, this newspaper was told. The businessman subsequently managed to free himself and then freed the rest of his family.
The premises are located in close proximity to the Demerara Harbour Bridge, but the store was closed when the robbery was carried out and passersby were clueless to the attack.
Jeetendra noted that the security alarm did not go off since there was no forced entry into the house.
The police took between 30 and 45 minutes to respond after a report was made. Stabroek News was told that during that time the businessman was taken to a private hospital for medical treatment and was admitted.
No arrests have been made by the police as yet.
