Uitvlugt fisherman’s murder…Rank took action on report made about suspect – Commander

There are records at the Leonora Police Station which show that two reports were taken from Doreen Sahadeo-Siranauth in relation to the suspect who murdered her reputed husband on Tuesday, Commander of Police ‘D’ Division, Balram Persaud says.

Nandalall Bopat

One of the reports, the Police Commander explained to Stabroek News yesterday afternoon, was made at 2 in the morning. There are records in the police’s book, he said, which show that after that particular report was made by Siranauth a rank left to go in search of the suspect. However, the search was unsuccessful and the rank subsequently returned to the station.

Earlier, Siranauth had told this newspaper that two days before her husband’s, Nandalall Bopat’s murder, she and the suspect had argued. She alleged that the suspect, who worked under the supervision of Bopat on a fishing boat, verbally abused her and threatened to “chop” her.

Following this, she’d further alleged, two unsuccessful attempts were made to report the matter to a police rank at the Leonora Police Station. On the first occasion, she had related, she waited from 9 pm to after 11 pm on Sunday before leaving the station and again returned on Monday morning at 7 am. Siranauth said she waited until after 10 that morning before abandoning her efforts to report the matter. She had expressed a belief that had police taken and responded to her reports, then Bopat would still be alive.

But Persaud, speaking with Stabroek News via telephone, insisted that the woman’s claims were not true. He reiterated that there are records at the Leonora Police Station which contradict Siranauth’s story.

Crime Chief Seelall Persaud also spoke with this newspaper briefly about the matter. Even if police had responded to the reports Siranauth reportedly made, he said, it still would not have prevented her husband’s murder.

He also informed this newspaper that investigations have revealed that both the suspect and Bopat had been consuming alcohol together on the day of the incident. An argument, the Crime Chief said, ensued between the two men about a work related issue.

Meanwhile, this newspaper has since learnt from a senior police source that Bopat had been charged with murder several years ago. However, that matter was dismissed. The deceased, according to the source, has also been charged with robbery under arms and “has a reputation for wounding people”.

Siranauth when questioned about Bopat’s dismissed murder charge, only said that it happened a long time ago. “That charge ain’t got nothing to do with this matter here and that matter was dismissed at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court”, she said.

Meantime, the source told this newspaper that the suspect has since told police that he cannot walk properly and must do so with the aid of crutches. On the day in question, Bopat insulted him about this and an argument erupted as a result, the suspect told police. It was Bopat who attacked him first and he retaliated with the “fishing knife” that was in his possession at the time, the suspect told police.

Stabroek News was also reliably informed that the suspect is expected to appear before the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court tomorrow afternoon to be charged with murder.

Police, in a press statement issued a day after the incident, said they were investigating Bopat’s murder. The incident occurred in the De Groot Squatting Area, Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara.

The police said that investigations revealed that Bopat was involved in an argument with another man during which he was stabbed about his body. He was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where he succumbed while receiving medical treatment.

Acting on information received, the police arrested the suspect at about 1.40 pm on Wednesday at Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo.