POLICE ARRIVE AT DEAD END IN INVESTIGATIONS INTO UNITY MAHAICA ROBBERY

UNITY MAHAICA ROBBERY VICTIM ALLEGE CHILDREN WERE PART OF GANG THAT ROBBED AND BRUTALISED HIM AND FAMILY.

None of the suspects in the Unity Mahaica robbery has been identified. According to Divisional Commander Gavin Primo, the Victim Rajdeo Tajpaul could not identify any of the suspects. According to Primo; the police are still continuing their search for more clues that would lead to a breakthrough in the investigations.

The Victim in the robbery, Rajdeo Tajpaul, 53 in an interview with this newspaper said that the persons in the ID parade were short and squat while the bandits were tall and lean. Based on his observations, Tajpaul said there were atleast five adults and 4 teenagers no older than fifteen years old. Tajpaul said the first shot he received to the shoulder was by a teenager with a gun.
The man recounting the ordeal said that after he heard the noise and went to inspect, he saw four men armed with cutlasses and guns.

However being determined to protect his family, Tajpaul said he tried to block the entrance with his body but one of the bandits with a cutlass dealt him a few blows and another shot him to the foot. After collapsing, the cutlass wielding bandit left one of the boys to watch him.

However, after making an attempt to escape the boy shot him to the shoulder while another bandit took a cutlass and ‘broadside’ him, “he keeping watch over me and every time he turn round he put a broad side, every time he turn round he put a broad side.”

Tajpaul said that apart from the money and jewellery the bandits carted off, the damage done to the home was major “what they don’t want, they destroy.” Among the damage left are the broken windows to the home, cabinet, doors, and appliances. The loss is estimated to run past $200,000. Tajpaul noted that the way the bandits acted was as though they had something personal against him.

He added that although he didn’t recognize any of the bandits, he did observe that they were dressed like a normal “flat person with old clothes and thing.” He noted that he doesn’t have any bad relation with anyone that might want to hurt him or his family but he felt his family was being targeted mainly because of the nature of his business.

Tajpaul said that he was recuperating from his injuries, however his feet is still numb when he walks. He added that he started working back on Monday but still remains traumatized over the incident.

Tajpaul and his wife were brutally beaten by the bandits on Monday 16th of August around 03.00 hrs as they were preparing to go about their business to purchase vegetables to resell at Stabroek market. The bandits carted off close to one million dollars in cash and jewellery including clothing belonging to the business man and household appliances.

The man’s wife, Sumintra Hemant in a previous report to this newspaper related that her family has been robbed atleast five other times but no one has been arrested and charged. The woman also related that the robberies bore resemblance to each other and it may be possible that it was committed by the same persons. Hemant related that she felt her family was being targeted. She said that the Police was slow in their response during the hour long ordeal. To date, the matter lies dormant wit Police arriving at a dead end in their investigations.

Taken from Guyana Times August

in picture: Tajpaul and wife, displaying cutlass 'broadside'