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Shankar Kumar, also called “Coolie,” the Uitvlugt sea captain whose body was discovered at a West Berbice foreshore, died from drowning.
The cause of death was determined by a post-mortem conducted by pathologist Vivikanand Brijmohan on Thursday. Late last week, Kumar’s wife and daughters received news that the man had gone missing from Savie II, the vessel which he captained. They launched a search “from Skeldon to Abary” the next day but their worst fears were confirmed on Wednesday morning when his decomposed body was discovered at the Bush Lot foreshore.
Relatives have said that the body bore a chop wound while the left hand and left leg also appeared to be badly burnt. They believe the man was thrown overboard alive into the Corentyne waters where he and his crew were fishing, after he was attacked.
The owner of Savie II, who only identified himself as “Boy,” told this newspaper Thursday that he could not comment on the incident because he had not been on the boat. “Boy” indicated he wasn’t feeling well and was tired of everyone calling him to ask questions about what went on in the river. “Listen, I can say nothing about what happen because I wasn’t on the boat,” the Savie II owner said, “You got to talk to one of de men that was on de boat.”
“Boy” refused to comment further and advised that four sailors involved in the incident who were taken into police custody were released and would be visiting him.
Kumar was one of a seven member crew, which left on October 27 for fishing waters. Relatives of the deceased had reported that after Kumar refused to agree to the demand of a crew member who wanted to head to Suriname he and a sailor, Trevor Williams, were doused with hot oil. The rogue crew member, who launched the attack, escaped and is yet to be apprehended by police.
