A Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara (WCD) shop owner was beaten and robbed during the wee hours of Wednesday morning, when two armed men invaded his house. Immediately after, they attacked and robbed another villager.
Speaking to Stabroek News from his Lot ‘A’ West, Meten-Meer-Zorg, Railway View home yesterday, Ravindra Persaud, 41, said the attack occurred around 3am on Wednesday. The men gained entry to his property by removing three louvre panes from the bathroom window.
Persaud related that he and his family, which included his wife and five-year-old son, were asleep when he was awakened by a noise coming from the shop in front. Persaud has been operating Ravo Grocery Store and Beer Garden at the front of his residence for the past 15 years. He said the noise prompted him to make checks around the house and shop and he soon discovered the two masked men in his house.
“They point the gun to me and demand that I hand over all the money and jewellery. So, I give them the $40,000 I had on me and tell them me ain’t got no jewellery and they didn’t believe me so they continue to ask for it,” Persaud said.
It was during the men’s continued interrogation that Persaud’s son woke up and walked out of his room crying. The man said the men then placed the gun to his son’s head and threatened to shoot the boy if he did not hand over the jewellery.
“I tell them shoot me and left my son but they just keep asking for the jewellery,” the businessman said. At that point the men released the child and started to batter him.
The men fled on a bicycle that belonged to the businessman but while leaving they met one of Persaud’s neighbours, Alexis Gittens, who said they attacked her and demanded that she lay face down on the road. The woman said she did as she was told out of fear since they also threatened to shoot her.
“I didn’t see nothing but I heard Persaud shouting and I was outside on my verandah and they approached me with the guns in their hand and tell me to hand over everything I got. They put me to lay down on the road and then tell me to go in meh house and pass the money,” Gittens, a security guard, said.
According to Gittens, the only money she had was that which she had set aside to use for her grandson to attend his school’s Christmas party. She handed it over to the men and they made good their escape.
The victims praised the police for their quick response. According to Persaud, statements were taken from him and his family and he is hopeful that the men would be apprehended soon.
The incident has left Persaud’s family and Gittens traumatised. It was the first such experience for them in the over 20 years they had been residing in the village.
