–cops thwart attempt to postpone burial
Bridgette Gangadin, who was allegedly killed by her husband, was laid to rest at the Good Hope Cemetery yesterday, following funeral services at the homes of her parents and in-laws.
After days of tension between her blood relatives and in-laws as well as police interference, the woman was entombed as police say they may need to re-examine her remains later, as part of the case against her husband. The woman had requested that her remains be cremated.
Armed police were present throughout yesterday’s proceedings, which went smoothly over two hours despite an earlier disturbance at the Jerrick’s Funeral home when the woman’s father-in-law turned up and said the burial should be postponed since he was not prepared. Police, according to reports, had to be called in and subsequently advised all parties involved that the woman’s relatives were responsible for her remains. The disturbance was a surprise since the woman’s in-laws had said that they wanted nothing to do with the funeral arrangements, because they were reportedly frustrated particularly with the police interference.
Gangadin’s burial came 12 days after her mangled remains were discovered lying a short distance from the entrance to the Vigilance Police Station. Her husband was absent from the proceedings yesterday even though according to Hindu rites, he should have been present to partake in the ceremony. After he was arrested and charged with her murder, the arrangement was that the police would have escorted him to the funeral.
After leaving the funeral home, Bridgette’s body was taken to her parents’ Annandale, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home around 1 pm where many, dressed in traditional funeral attire, turned up to pay their last respects to the woman, who has been a fixture of headlines since her death. Her relatives shed tears as they had done at the initial funeral ceremony last Saturday.
The woman’s mother, Punarbattie Bharrat, was inconsolable as she sat next to her daughter’s coffin while the pandit conducted the service.
A teary-eyed Heeralall Sookdeo told the media at the home that he was very relieved that his niece would finally be put to rest. He said he was very upset over the morning’s events and questioned the reason behind it. The man said that the father-in-law is claiming that he never received any calls from him, indicating that preparations for a burial were being made.
The upset man said that on Thursday after the father-in-law did not return his calls, he just started making preparations because he wanted his niece to be at peace. “This is advantage man. What was the reason for all this?” Sookdeo said adding that to date he has not received any money from Dwarka or his parents although a court order had stipulated that they reimburse the $90,000, that represented the storage fees for the body up to last Saturday.
The man said that because of the division he was forced to pay off the funeral parlour for the 12 days the body was there; pay for her coffin and her sari. Stabroek News was told that the in-laws “took back” a casket and funeral clothes she was to be cremated in.
Sookdeo said while the woman’s mother is not satisfied with a burial, “We can’t disobey the law of the state.” Gangadin, prior to her death, had told relatives that she wanted to be cremated when she died.
Attorney Basil Williams, who has been representing the woman’s relatives throughout the saga, was also present. He attended to ensure that the proceedings at the house were not interrupted.
The body spent about an hour at the residence before it was taken a short distance away to her matrimonial home at Lot 3 ‘E’ Lusignan. The woman’s relatives stayed outside and gyrated to music that was blasting from a car. One song in particular was dedicated to the woman, as in it her name was mentioned several times.
The coffin bearing the remains was immediately taken into the lower flat of the two-storey house, where the in-laws and the woman’s two young sons had a private religious ceremony. About ten minutes later, it was brought out and after about five minutes of viewing, the coffin was closed and taken to the nearby cemetery.
At both houses, those in attendance could be heard openly discussing the tragedy. One woman told Stabroek News of the couple’s relationship which began when Gangadin was just 12 years old. She spoke highly of the woman and pointed out that it was a tragedy she had to die in such a manner, leaving young children behind.
Meanwhile, at the cemetery there was wailing and it took several minutes to convince the woman’s older sister, Sandra, that she had to get off the coffin; she had climbed and sat on top of it before it was removed from the hearse.
Many crowded the burial spot for the final rites before the tomb was sealed.
Following her death, relatives had said that the couple left their Lusignan home the night before and travelled to Enterprise where they were expected to go shrimp-catching with some friends. However, the trip was aborted and the couple left and it was believed that they were heading home. About an hour later the husband returned to the Enterprise home without his wife and when questioned about her he did not answer.
The police were contacted and he was arrested. Dwarka, while in custody, had reportedly told investigators that his wife jumped out of the truck and he accidentally ran over her head. Her relatives remain adamant that it was he who pushed her then reversed over her head.
Government pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh conducted an autopsy the following day concluding that it was crushing injuries to the head caused by a wheel and a fractured skull that had caused her death. Her relatives expressed dissatisfaction with the cause of death and called for a second post-mortem examination (PME). Later, relatives flew in a Trinidadian pathologist who after examining the body said that he found evidence of strangulation.
After spending three days in police custody, Dwarka was released on substantial station bail. But less than 24 hours later, he appeared in court charged with driving a motor vehicle on the road while his blood alcohol level exceeded the prescribed amount.
Dwarka, who is also a national grass-track racing champion, denied the charge and was released on $10,000 bail. Days later, he was re-arrested and charged with the capital offence which police said was based on further investigations and the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions. This newspaper was told that additional evidence and the results of the second PME had some bearing on the charge. This case has been adjourned to June 4.
