The man who was shot dead at a wedding house in Canal Number Two Polder, West Bank Demerara on Sunday night had been helping the family all day with preparations.
No arrest has yet been made in connection with the murder/robbery, Regional Commander, Assistant Commissioner Mahendra Siwnarine told Stabroek News yesterday.
Natram Persaud called ‘Vishal’, a 40-year-old employee of the Lands and Survey Department and of Lot 43 Stanleytown, West Bank Demerara was shot dead and Manipaul Ram-barhak called ‘Anand’, a 57-year-old farmer of Canal # 2 Polder was robbed of his gold bracelet valued at $250,000.
Rambarhak’s wife, Tara Rambarhak, told Stabroek News yesterday that her daughter was getting married on the day of the robbery and while the wedding was in full swing, her husband was sitting next to the fence in front of one of the homes that is situated in the yard when three masked men ran into the yard. One ran to her husband armed with a gun, one stood watch at the gate, followed by the other who was standing on the road keeping watch. Tara recounted that at the time of the incident she was standing at the bottom of the home.
“What I saw from where I was standing, the guys just came in and I saw them with the mask on and by the time I could not have done anything, one of the robbers place a gun to my husband’s belly and shot him,” she said, adding that the gunman relieved him of his gold handband.
Tara added that she was not sure if Persaud was coming into the wedding house when he got shot or he was already there but what she can say is that he had gone home to change into his wedding outfit since he was with the family the entire morning helping with the wedding preparations. She opined that he may have seen the face of the gunman who had robbed and shot her husband because that robber’s mask fell as he was attempting to escape.
Further, the gunman who shot Persaud also robbed him of his gold chain and gold ring but she was unable to say if he put up any resistance but she knows he was shot at the back of the head.
Persaud was a close friend of the family.
She disclosed that her husband underwent surgery for his gunshot wound and is still a patient at the Woodlands hospital.
Police inquiries revealed that at the time of the incident, the wedding celebration of Mr and Mrs Samsundar was being held at Canal #2 and there were about 60 persons in attendance.
Rambarhak was sitting at the western side of the entrance along with another friend when three masked men approached him and one of the men, who was armed, discharged two rounds at him and relieved him of his gold band. The suspects exited the yard and the now-deceased (Persaud) chased behind them and began to scuffle with one of the suspects. During the scuffle, a loud explosion was heard, after which Persaud fell to the ground. The three bandits then escaped east of the Canal #2 Polder access road.
Relatives then went to the assistance of Rambarhak and Persaud when it was observed that they had both suffered gunshot injuries.
Rambarhak, who suffered a gunshot injury to his stomach which exited his lower back, was taken to the Woodlands Hospital. Meanwhile, Persaud, who suffered a gunshot injury to the back of his head, was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Detectives processed the scene and three .45mm spent shells were recovered. One on the bridge area and two at the entrance of the yard.
The investigation is ongoing.
