Some of the East Bank youths, who were picked up by police on Thursday evening were released later that night and others were released yesterday.

One remained in custody at the Brickdam Police Station up to yesterday afternoon. Relatives said that no reason had been given as to why the young men were picked up.
Around 7 pm on Thursday, three van loads of police dressed in black swooped down on the East Bank Demerara communities of Agricola, McDoom and Bagotstown and detained the youths, who were said to have numbered over two dozen.

One woman had told this newspaper that her relative was on the street at just about 7 pm Thursday when he was picked up by the police. One man related a similar experience while another man said that a relative along with friends were in their home using the computer when the police came in and ordered them into the van.  It was also stated that some of the youths were coming home from work when they were picked up. The young men were taken to the Brickdam Police station.

Yesterday, one relative said that a reason for the youths’ detention was yet to be offered and ranks would only reportedly tell them when asked “orders from the commissioner”.

Asked how persons managed to secure the release of their relatives the man said “you know somebody, you get loose because they (youths) didn’t do nothing”. This newspaper was informed that it took the intervention of a lawyer to secure the release of the first group of young men.

As relatives lobbied for their release, more were set free with the final set being released yesterday morning. The young man who remains in custody was also released but as he was leaving was called back and detained further.

A national football player was among those who were detained and he was released at 11 am yesterday after his mother took his passport to the police station.

Discomfort was expressed at the fact that the police had entered a home to arrest some of the young men. The relative argued that Agricola has law-abiding residents and noted that the community is now a “thoroughfare for police”.

He said that on the eve of Emanci-pation Day it was incomprehensible that the police would engage in such an exercise without proffering any valid reason. He said it is a regular occurrence for police to drive through the area and pick up persons.