Soldier bludgeoned in robbery

A rank of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) was last evening hospitalized after a violent robbery left him with several serious injuries to his head.

22-year-old Brian Persaud of Tenth Street, Foulis narrowly escaped with his life after two men attacked him while he was taking them to Ogle Old Road.

The public-spirited citizen who took the man to the hospital said that he noticed a man in his neighbour’s yard yelling “thief! thief!”The man, who asked that his name not be mentioned, said that he rushed to the man’s assistance after residents of the yard started throwing bottles and other items in an effort to make him leave their premises. He said that when he got near to Persaud he noticed that the man’s head was badly injured and rushed him to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

The man said Persaud told him that he had picked up two men from “Club 65” in Enmore, who told him that they wanted to be taken to Ogle Old Road.

Once at the destination, one of the passengers surprised Persaud and held him in a stranglehold, while the other bludgeoned him about the head with a hammer he had in his possession.

The man said Persaud told him that he wrestled himself free and ran into a nearby yard, all the while yelling “thief! thief!” Instead of helping him however, the resident of the yard threw bottles and other items at the injured man, and was yelling at him to leave the premises.

At the hospital the man’s mother questioned why anyone would pelt and chase an injured man, desperately in need in help. Persaud’s rescuer however, explained that robberies were quite common in the area where the man was attacked. He said that it is quite possible that the resident who pelted Persaud assumed that his pleas were a ploy to lure them.

Persaud was conscious and able to speak to his relatives up to late last evening.