Police have arrested two of the four persons who allegedly robbed Sridat Service Station at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara (WCD) on Monday of an undisclosed amount of cash after relieving the owner of his licensed firearm.
The robbery took place around 22.30hrs. Apart from the cash, Ganga Deo Sridat was relieved of his 9mm Smith and Wesson pistol with one magazine containing fifteen live matching rounds, his driver license and national ID card.
One of his pump attendants, Jermain Maxwell, 35, was also robbed of the cash he had in his possession and his car keys.
However, quick action by the police led to the arrest of two of the suspects who have been identified as Navindra Kunik, 23, of Lot 73 De Kinderen, WCD and Dinesh George, 21 of Lot 101 West Meten-Meer-Zorg, WCD.
Police yesterday said they have confessed to the crime. Sridat’s firearm was also recovered.
In a press release yesterday, the police said enquiries disclosed that Sridat arrived at the gas station where he parked. Upon exiting his motor car, he was approached by two masked men, one of whom struck him in his head and demanded that he hand over his money and firearm.
“Sridat stated that he does not have neither, just then the other suspect conducted a search on his person and took away his firearm from his waist and his wallet from his pants pocket,” the police said.
According to the police, the bandits then ordered Sridat to open the door to the gas station shop. He complied and they took him into the shop. “He (Sridat) was asked for the keys to the safe, and the victim told them that the keys were outside in the guard hut. One of the suspects went and got the keys and opened the safe and took a quantity of cash, after which they tied up the businessman,” the police explained.
Maxwell told the police that he heard Sridat screaming and he ran west to the gas station where he was confronted by the bandits. He was relieved of his valuables and taken into the shop and beaten, the police said. The bandits later escaped in Maxwell’s car.
The matter was reported to the police and the victims were taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital for medical treatment.
Investigations are ongoing.
