A Stabroek News employee was two Thursdays ago robbed of his valuables on his way home, while travelling in a Route 40 Kitty Campbellville bus and is warning commuters to be careful while in these vehicles.
The victim, Ayube Khan, a Computer to Plate (CTP) Operator, related that he was attacked by three men who entered the bus at David and Alexander streets, Kitty. The robbery occurred sometime around 9 pm.
During the ordeal, Khan was choked by one of the men who was sitting behind him while his accomplices ran through his pockets and stole his valuables. He was thrown out of the bus at Delhi and First streets in an unconscious state.
Khan’s cellular phone, $7000 in cash, a Guyana Revenue Authority cheque, his Atlantic TV cable box along with other important documents were stolen from him.
Relating the ordeal, Khan said when he boarded the bus at Orange Walk and Regent Street two passengers were already in the bus with a conductor and the driver. One of the passengers, he noted exited the bus at Oronoque Street.
As they drove through David Street, Kitty he said the three men were picked up and one sat beside him while the two others occupied the seat behind.
While on Sheriff Street, Khan said he informed the conductor he was stopping off at Campbell Avenue.
“By time we reached Survival (Supermarket) one of the men from the back seat vice me and I tried to pull off his hand but the other one bite me on my shoulder and the one next to him ran through my pockets. I got blackout and by time I catch back myself they rob me,” he related.
Khan recalled seeing the bus conductor observing as he was getting robbed and not doing anything.
“I don’t know if the conductor and the bus driver had anything to do with it… but it seems that way because they didn’t help and they throw me off at Delhi Street even though I told them I was coming off at Campbell Avenue,” he said.
Khan went on to say that after he regained consciousness, he walked to the Kitty Police Station where he informed the officers that he had been robbed. His frustrations deepened. He said he was unable to make a report immediately as he was informed that no detective was present at the station. He said after waiting for approximately 45 minutes, a detective arrived and took his report. After giving the report, he said that the detective told him he would need to visit the Prashad Nagar Police Outpost and give a full statement.
“The rank told me to go there and give a statement and a number to call because a detective is not always present at the station. I didn’t go because it seems like a runaround to get a detective…,” Khan lamented.
Many citizens have complained before about the police habit of redirecting persons who are in distress.
Adding to his problems, Khan has not been able to access his bank account as his bank card was also stolen and to replace it he needs a form of identification.
“I don’t have a passport so I went back to GECOM to replace the ID card but they said they are not issuing ID cards until after Local Government Elections,” he bemoaned.
It is unclear why citizens who need ID cards in an emergency now have to wait until after Local Government Elections on November 12.
