Shot Charlestown businessman still in hospital

Two weeks after he was shot, in a robbery attempt on Ketley Street, Charlestown, businessman Francis Jairam remains hospitalized, awaiting word from the doctor about a bullet that is lodged in his ribcage.

In the meantime, the two men who carried out the daring daylight attack on Jairam remain at large and the police have been unable to come up with leads that could see a possible arrest.

A close relative of the man told Stabroek News on Tuesday that the bullet is lodged near a rib.  She said that while, he is conscious, he remains hospitalized and they are awaiting advice from the doctor on the next step as it relates to his condition.

According to the woman, the attack appeared to be planned as that was a route that he would usually take.

Police had said in a release that around 8:45 am on September 2, 52-year-old Jairam of Saffon Street, Charlestown, was shot in his shoulder by two men on a motor cycle.

At the time of the shooting the businessman was with his wife Indra in motor car PFF 5014 driving along Ketley Street when a dray cart blocked his path. One of the suspects approached his wife and attempted to pull her out of the car while the other suspect went up to the driver and shot him in his shoulder, the release added.

The man was subsequently admitted a patient of the High Dependency Unit of the Georgetown Hospital. He was later moved to another hospital.

This newspaper was told that the men walked up to the car door and made demands but the businessman reportedly put up a struggle and was shot in the process.

Despite being shot, Jairam managed to reverse his vehicle and was rushed to the hospital.

Jairam, who operates F&I Jairam Sons and Daughter, General Store, had been the victim of several robberies over the years, including one in which his security guard was shot dead.