Residents of three North West District (NWD) villages that are being terrorized by a large gang believe that the men are being fed information since they are utilizing the many bush trails instead of the main access road where the patrol groups are.
On Tuesday night there were two more sightings of the men in Hosororo but they quickly fled into the thick bush. Despite a nightly police patrol and formation of several citizens’ patrol groups in Hosororo, Bumbury and Wanaina, the men continue to elude capture.
Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday the police commander with responsibility for that area, Senior Superintendent Nolan Hendricks said that he is unaware of any large gang. He however said that there have been allegations that persons are breaking into people’s quarters and one report has been made to the police.
The Commander stated that police are assisting the communities with nightly patrols adding that he was aware of two persons suspected to be members of the gang being held. Stabroek News was told that the two men are in the lock-ups at the Mabaruma Police Station, some 3 ½ miles away.
One of the men was caught fetching a generator which had been stolen from a home in Wanaina while his accomplices ran away. The other was arrested several days earlier.
Residents had reported to this newspaper that a gang of men, in one instance numbering twelve, has been breaking into homes in the last week and molesting girls. From all appearances, the gang who residents believe originated from communities along the Aruka River which runs through Hosororo, would break up into small groups when carrying out their attacks.
The police were informed about the situation last week after it escalated into a nightly occurrence. When contact was made with residents yesterday, they said that they are still living in fear because the men have become bolder – carrying out their attacks earlier and using a toxic spray on the latest victim.
One resident said that on Tuesday night, the men entered a home in Hosororo and sprayed the substance in the face of the young girl but fled after her father – who is a licensed firearm holder, discharged a round.
Earlier that night around 7’o clock a woman fainted after one of the men pointed what appeared to be a gun at her.
In both instances the men disappeared into the bushes. Hosororo has electricity up to at least 11 pm daily but the other villages are not that fortunate. They have no electricity at all and have to depend on lamps and generators.
Another resident pointed out that instead of the main road the men have been using the tracks behind the villages. They also lead to the river and are a perfect way to enter and leave the communities undetected.
The resident pointed out that the patrols that have been set up cannot pursue the men because the area is surrounded by thick bush, they are hampered by the lack of lights and they are unsure if the men are armed.
Residents said that they are in a frightening situation that neither they nor the police can handle. Yesterday they again issued a plea for help from the army to flush out the men.
One resident, whose daughter became a victim last Thursday, told this newspaper that they cannot afford to go after the men because they are few in number and they work from 6 pm to 5 am after which they have to check on their families to ensure all is well.
Stabroek News was told that the students of the Hosororo Primary School have been urged to walk in groups and to immediately report any encounters they may have with the men.
Army should be dispatch to assist police to capture the bandits.
I think SandHurst First said that same thing yesterday.
Why dont the army send those helicopters and conduct a search operation for these men or send in an extra platoon to the location? It will only take about 2 days to get them
Mr.Noland ,u gat 2 a dem now, na need more, question these 2, dem gan give u de rest a dem scumbags, do ya jab now, we nah want to hear dem get way.
The army has to patrol the Corentyne river not to go after bandits..Suriname is claiming that river…the police has little to do in those outlying areas, they should get busy now that they have work on their hand.
if the army has to patrol the corentyne river then can you tell me why they have the JOINT SERVICE??? Judge not and ye shall not be judged!!
Those two in custody with a little “roughing up” will bawl//groan/halla the names/location of the of the others.
Well said Arnold.
… the marauders,, is just that ! a bunch of holigans ,, who r “coked up” and need to find money to get the next fix ,, it’s the nature of the beast ,, their location is very near to where the porosity of our border with our westernly neighbour would make it difficult to apprehend these unless caught in the act ,, to accomplish this ,, would require ,, an on the sopt on the spur of the moment ,, net to capture all at one stroke ,, for this to unfold ,, intelligence must be gathered with it seeming to happen ,, but with a marked urgency ,, then ,, a pattern must b estabilshed as it relate to their modus operandi,,,,,,
if one or two is caught ,, or the villagers kill or injure one or more ,, the marauders will bcome enraged and kill with reckless abandon ,, and then they will move and it will then bcome much more difficult to contain them,, they will form pockets ,, of small gangs as is evident in the more populated cities and towns ,, some of these marauders ,, consist of convicts released ,, it’s what society must expect ,, from a prison system that has NO rehabilitative programs ,, tho,, some of them who are convicts really can not be rehabilitated ,, thus requiring the state to care for them ,, until they expire ! which,, simply put ,, keep them away from society !
as in all cases the fundamentals of crime fighting is the gathering of information ,, intelligent “sifting” of the info to create a pic and then the motive for the crime ,, with all the elements of the dynamics in the equation !…….
you know we should start calling torture “roughing up”
Thanks Pat!!
You, sir, are not the real Irreverend.