The police are on the hunt for five Venezuelan men who allegedly attacked and chopped a 46-year-old taxi driver of Naamyrck Parika, East Bank Essequibo.
According to a police report, last Sunday at about 01:45 am, Shon Smith, the taxi driver, was driving along the Parika main road, opposite Courts turn, when he was stopped by five Venezuelan men who hired him to take them to Ruby squatting area. Smith said that while proceeding in the squatting area, one of the men pulled out a knife and started to chop him on his hand. Smith related to the police that he stopped his vehicle in the middle of the road and exited. The men also exited the vehicle but continued to beat him and chop him. Smith said the men then ran away.
Jagmohan Singh, a 49-year-old farmer of Ruby Backdam, told the police that at about 02:00 hrs of the very Sunday, he was awakened from his sleep by a loud noise. Singh said he got off his bed and went outside and saw a bloodied Smith lying under a shed in his yard. Singh said he immediately alerted his brother-in-law who took the victim into his car and transported him to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where he was examined and admitted for observation.
The statement said on Tuesday afternoon ranks from Regional Division #3 raided the Ruby squatting area, Greenwich Park, Peter Street and Parika First Koker, and several male Venezuelan nationals were taken into custody. Later at 13:45 hrs, Smith visited the Parika Police Station where he was shown photographs of forty-one Venezuelan males. Smith informed the police that he did not recognize any as his attackers. An entry was later made in the station diary to that effect. The police said they will be continuing the search for the suspects.
