Residents of Hosororo Hill, Mabaruma, Region One, are angry at the actions of members of the joint services, who allegedly raided the houses of several families during the wee hours of Sunday in search of suspects in an assault.
They described the actions of the servicemen, which included soldiers and at least one policeman, as “unprofessional” after they reportedly entered four different homes without permission or even providing any form of identification.
The men only stated that they were in search of some youths who allegedly assaulted a man on Saturday evening during a floodlight football match held in the community.
Two residents said based on how the soldiers acted, they appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.
Due to the actions of the men, the roadways were blocked and the police were called in by residents to stop the situation from escalating.
Efforts to contact the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) for a comment on the matter proved futile.
However, Police Commander of ‘F’ Division Ravindradat Budhram confirmed that four young residents were arrested and remained in custody up to late Monday afternoon.
He said while investigations into the matter continue, based on what was reported the raids were carried out by ranks attached to the GDF but this is still to be confirmed. He said ranks were in the process of taking statements from the men in order to ascertain what exactly transpired.
A resident, who asked not to be named, told Stabroek News that she was awakened around 4.30am on Sunday by the loud sounds of some men in the street. One of the men was armed with a handgun, she added, while noting that they drove around using a “soldier” vehicle.
The woman said the men entered the yard of her neighbour and started to shout for his grandson, Dave (only name given). As a result, she said, the elderly man got up to enquire who was shouting for his grandson but he was only told that it was the “police” and he should open his door.
However, before the man could open the men reportedly kicked down the door and entered his home, from where they dragged the grandson and then took him to the vehicle. She said before he was taken to the vehicle and told to lay down he was hit to his ribs with the gun.
“They told him to lay down in the vehicle while they ask him where the other guys live but he didn’t say nothing because one of them was in the vehicle like he did already know but they did just asking,” the woman related.
Stabroek News was told that the four youths who were eventually arrested live in the same street, just some walking distance from each other.
“They went to Roger [Simon] house and his mother come out and open the door out of fright and after they keep shouting “police,” she ask them if they have any form of ID or so since they told her they wanted to search her house. But they said no, that they are police and she can’t tell them anything,” the woman added.
Meanwhile, a relative of one of the youths in custody told this newspaper that when she enquired about them on Monday she was told that they will remain in custody since they have to await a medical and no doctor was available at the Mabaruma Hospital.
The woman also voiced her concern about the manner in which the ranks operated. She said, “although I don’t really know much about how they does work, what I do know is if they want go in somebody house to do a search they must have some form of ID or so. They can’t just barge into people house just like that.”
