The grieving widow of Lallbachan Bachan, 39, of Lot 21 Maria’s Lodge, Essequibo Coast, who was discovered dead while in police custody on July 1, 2019, is distressed about spending the new year without him.
Samantha Bachan, 32, mother of the man’s two youngest children, ages seven and nine, said the children also miss him a lot.
They always looked forward to spending the holidays as a family. It was always a jolly time for them but this year they are feeling very sad.
On old year’s day they would usually prepare a pot of cook up rice and get together with friends and family to celebrate until New Year’s morning.
Later they would cook their favourite food and spend the day with friends or family.
This year she made no plans but would “see what to do because I have to try and make the children happy.”
Christmas Day was lonely without her husband. She tried her best to socialize with her in-laws and other family members, but it was not the same.
She is sad at the way his life was snuffed out. The woman insisted that her husband was beaten to death, noting that he was in good health when he was taken into custody.
Bachan, a taxi driver, was discovered dead in a cell around 6.10 am on Monday, July 1. At the time, he was the lone occupant of the cell.
Samantha showed this newspaper photographs, which showed injuries and black and blue marks about his body, including his forehead, lower back and legs. There were also marks on the right side of his neck that appeared as though he was strangled.
She was having a hard time overcoming his death and in tears, she said she is “hoping and praying for justice. I’m leaving this matter in God’s hands because he knows what happened that day.”
She is sure that “he did not die of natural causes and that was not one person’s job.
Recounting what led to his demise, she said Bachan was charged with driving under the influence, on June 12.
The matter was called on Friday June 28 but he failed to attend court. A warrant was then issued for his arrest and he was taken into custody later the same day while walking on the road. The police had also taken possession of his car.
Samantha, a switchboard operator at the Suddie Hospital, told Stabroek News that she was at work so she told Bachan’s mother, Maharanie to go to the station to check.
Bachan heard his mother inquiring about him and started shouting for her. But the police did not allow her to see him.
The next day the woman returned three different times with meals for him but again she was prevented from seeing her son. The Sunday morning, Samantha and the man’s mother went to the station together. They were able to see him for about five minutes and were satisfied that he was ok.
She recalled that on Monday July 1, a holiday, she received a call that he had died. She did not believe because when she saw him the previous day he showed no sign of being unwell.
He was apparently taken to the hospital but the police did not inform her. She only realized he was dead when someone who worked at the hospital called her. She subsequently received another call that she should “make sure I take pictures of the body.” When she saw the body at the mortuary there was a big swelling on the middle of his forehead and on one side there was a dent.
The following day after the post-mortem (PM) was completed she was able to see the other marks and took the photos. Results from the PM proved that he died from asphyxiation due to a fractured larynx. On Tuesday July 2 she uplifted his car from the station with assistance from regional officials Senior police officers also visited her home to offer prayers and their condolences. The family was happy the police came but got angry when they attempted to cover up by saying that there were no marks of violence about the body.
She told this newspaper “everyone asked them how they could say that when we have the evidence.”
This prompted them to write placards and stage a protest in front of the station.
She also met with the divisional commander, Kali Parsram who told her that if she has any information that can help with the investigation she should let him know.
Attorney-at-law, Anil Nandlall who is representing the widow had said during a press conference that he will be filing civil proceedings against the state to claim compensation for Bachan’s wife and children.
The Police Complaints Authority has also launched an investigation into the matter. Meanwhile, Samantha said her husband did not attend court because a relative told him “he would talk to someone (police) to pull the jacket.”
According to her, the police asked for $25,000 but Bachan did not have enough. He borrowed $10,000 and sold a sheep for $12,000 to make up for the rest. He ended up sending only $19,000 for the police. He took it for granted that the case would not be called so he did not show up for court.
Samantha said she and his mother had insisted that he should go in case his name was called but he decided not to.
Her wish for the New Year is that the police would behave in a more professional manner with prisoners and that another family would not have to grieve for a loved one.
