The body of a 69-year-old lorry driver was on Thursday discovered floating in the Mazaruni River in Region Seven and an autopsy yesterday revealed that he had been strangled.
Dead is Pitamber Sharma of Independence Street, La Grange, West Bank Demerara (WBD). He was employed with BK Quarries, Mazaruni River.
The police yesterday said investigations reveal-ed that Sharma reported for work around 14.30hrs Wednesday and was assigned to a quarters within the compound.
He was last seen alive around 18.00hrs, the police said.
According to the police, a security guard discovered his body floating in the Mazaruni River around 7.30hrs Thursday.
The police were immediately summoned.
While it was initially suspected that Sharma might have drowned, the police yesterday confirmed that an autopsy revealed that he died as a result of manual strangulation.
A relative of Sharma, who wished not to be named, yesterday told Stabroek News that he left his La Grange home around 11 am to travel to Mazaruni for work.
The woman said Sharma’s eldest sister last spoke with him later that evening when he called to inform her that he had arrived safely.
The family learnt of his death the following morning.
According to the relative, family members suspected foul play from the inception. “We suspect something fishy from that moment because ain’t no way someone can drown and float up so fast,” the woman said.
She said when the family went to identify Sharma’s remains, his body bore several marks of violence and there was a wound to his head.
“When we went and identify the body we see blood leaking out from his head and marks on his skin. The police who identified him said there were no marks of violence on him but we saw it all……We saw all sorts of bruises and marks on his foot. Blue and black mark on his arms and burst to his head,” the woman explained.
She related that the incident has left the family puzzled for answers and they are eager to know what might have led to the incident. “The workplace gave us no form of satisfaction…We are looking for answers. We are begging for justice….He would never go on the road and trouble nobody and we are unaware of any type of problems that he may have had with anyone and highly doubt it,” the relative told this newspaper.
It is unclear whether the police have arrested any suspect for questioning.
