Three bandits wounded in shoot-out with police at Betsy Ground

Police today said that three bandits were wounded in a shoot-out with them early this morning at Betsy Ground, Canje after they had attempted to break into a house.

The police in a statement said that at about 0100h today, three men attempted to break into the home of Guysuco Field Foreman Rajesh Parasram, 41 years, of Betsy Ground, Canje, Berbice.

The statement said that Parasram was aroused by the sounds being made and raised an alarm. Police said that the three men ran away, discharging a round in the direction of the house as they did so.

According to the police, the community policing group in the area was alerted and mobilized themselves in search of the men and the police were also informed.

“The police responded quickly to the report received and while approaching the area on foot, they came under fire from the bandits who were in the compound of a Mandir in the vicinity. The police returned fire, but the men managed to escape from the compound and headed in the direction of the backdam area”, police said.

Back-up ranks were summoned and the police continued their pursuit of the men who were caught up with in the Betsy Ground Cemetery. Police said they then again opened fire on ranks. The police said they returned fire, injuring all three men in the process.

The police said that Deodat Seecharran called ‘Popcorn’, 20 years of Edinburgh Housing Scheme, EBB, was shot to his left side buttocks; Zafir Abdul, 22 years of Adelphi Housing Scheme, Canje, was shot to his left side hip; and Keshwar Harrinarine, 31 years of Fyrish, Corentyne, was shot to his right side buttocks. Police said they were taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital where they were referred to the GPHC.

Police say they recovered a number of shotgun pellets from the residence of  Parasram and a shotgun barrel along with an empty 12-gauge shotgun casing at the cemetery.

A man suspected to have been the driver of the motor car used by the bandits

has been detained after he was found in the vicinity and the motor vehicle was seized.