Police investigators have identified two suspects in the murder of Mahaica rice farmer Hardat Kissoon and are actively pursuing them, according to Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum.
Blanhum told Stabroek News yesterday, “We are pursuing two suspects. We have received details about them.” He however disclosed that ranks have been unable to apprehend the men; one of who was previously charged with robbery under arms, since searches as several locations came up empty handed.
Kissoon, according to police, was attacked in a minibus at the Turkeyen Public Road, East Coast Demerara, at around 2.35 pm two Mondays ago.
A passenger had requested to get off and as he was passing Kissoon he pulled out a firearm and held the farmer at gunpoint and demanded a bag that he had in his possession. A struggle ensued over the bag, during which Kissoon was shot to his chest and the perpetrator escaped with the bag, police said.
Kissoon died on the scene.
Stabroek News was told that in addition to the recovery of a helmet which was dropped by the shooter the police also had video footage which was recorded on one of the government installed CCTV cameras. The camera is installed at the traffic light at the junction of the public road and UG access road.
Stabroek News had been previously told that the cameras would have captured the shooter running from the scene. The shooter’s accomplice, according to a source, was waiting on a motorcycle, which was parked on the access road.
Kissoon had travelled to the city on the Monday morning to change the cheque, which he had received from a rice mill for paddy sold. There are no commercial banks in the area. Since the shooting, there have been calls for mills to pay farmers in cash if there are no banks located nearby.
From all indications, the gunman followed Kissoon to the Route 44 bus park after he left the bank. When the father of three would have boarded the minibus to travel back to his Cane Grove, Mahaica home, the gunman would have jumped in and ensured that he sat close to him.
During the journey, the gunman was constantly on this cellphone. As the bus was proceeding along the East Coast Highway, the gunman requested to be put off at UG road, where he carried out the attack.
Blanhum had told this newspaper in an interview on the day he was official named the new crime chief that he plans to focus on crimes around commercial banks in light of the number of cases where customers have been targeted.
He identified the placement of plain clothes ranks around banks as part of a plan to deter robbers.
