Police in Region Six are collaborating with ranks in Region Ten as they continue to investigate the murder of robbery accused Kwame Bhagwandin, who succumbed after he was brutally beaten in Kimbia, Berbice River.
This was confirmed by Police Commander of Region Six, Boodnarine Persaud who told Stabroek News that the investigation is ongoing.
“We (Region Six police) did the initial investigation. Kimbia is closer to us but it is actually Region 10 district. Our police went in there, our police bought out the body, our police is onto now still actively involved in continuous investigation,” Persaud said.
He declined to say whether the police are pursuing any suspect/s at this time. “Police are investigating. That is the most I could tell you now. And, they are collaborating with Region Ten,” he said.
Bhagwandin, 39, a resident of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam succumbed on Saturday last after he was beaten by residents of Kimbia, Berbice River who suspected that he was involved in a robbery which had occurred in the community on Friday..
An autopsy later showed that he died as a result of multiple injuries and ruled that it was a homicide.
To date, there has been no official report from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on the incident.
Reports had revealed that Bhagwandin was detained by villagers during a search in the aftermath of a brutal robbery on a family that operates a boating business in the Berbice River.
The home of the Gladstone family was invaded last Friday night by a gang of men who ransacked the upper flat and escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash and jewellery. The brothers are boat captains who operate a service on the Berbice River.
Rayon Gladstone had told Stabroek News that the invasion occurred at approximately 11.30hrs and lasted for an estimated two hours.
He said that he had opened his door to turn off their generator before retiring to bed but as he was about to do that he saw two men walking in the yard and he called out to them.
The bandits eventually managed to kick open the front door of the house. They immediately demanded cash and jewellery, Rayon said and started to ransack the home.
According to him, the men managed to gain entry to the room and started to beat them while asking for money and jewellery.
Rayon said he was tied up with wire and a belt during the ordeal. He was later freed by his wife.
He told this newspaper that even after they told the men on several occasions that they did not have more money they continued asking. “One of them come and jump on my back and chopped me on by back and in my head before leaving me in the room…while they were ransacking the house I try to lose out myself…”, he recounted.
Ryan stated that sometime after he realized the commotion in the living quarters had died down and it was at that point he released himself from the shackles and went to seek help.
He noted that as the news spread across the community residents came out and joined the search for the perpetrators. During the course of the morning, Rayon said he along with his wife and brother went to the community health centre for medical attention.
He stated that with the commotion distracting him from his sleep, he got up and saw that the villagers had a man tied up. At the same time, he said the police were also on the scene.
The family of Bhagwandin had said that they are calling for justice and a thorough investigation from the police to provide answers. “They see him as a stranger in the village and they just say he was a part of the robbery and they beat him. Beat him and tie him up like a dog… that is meh son. That is what they do meh son and unto now I don’t know how he dead,” his mother, Donna Liddle previously told Stabroek News.
Bhagwandin was taken into custody by police and later escorted to New Amsterdam.
Bhagwandin was one of four inmates disfigured in an attack at the New Amsterdam Prison on May 23, 2014. On that day, four inmates of the New Amsterdam Prison had to be hospitalized after they were brutally attacked by what is believed to be a six-member gang who doused them with acid and chopped them about their bodies.
He had faced a series of charges for armed robbery in the Berbice courts and is well-known to the police.
