Police kill three suspected bandits in Black Bush backdam

-cops say came under fire, jewellery and guns recovered

Police photos of the items found at the scene of the shooting.
Police photos of the items found at the scene of the shooting.

Police yesterday shot and killed three suspected bandits in the Johanna, Black Bush Polder back-lands, who they believe are part of a gang responsible for a spate of robberies on the Corentyne over the past month.

The trio killed yesterday afternoon have been identified to Stabroek News as Kelvin Shivgobin, also known as ‘Kelly’, 32, of Belvedere Village, Corentyne; Ramnarine Jagmohan, 33, of Belvedere Squatting Area and his brother, Tameshwar Jagmohan. The police, up to press time last night, had not released any official confirmation of the identities or the operation.

Shivgobin was wanted by the police in relation to the double murder committed on Bush Lot brothers, Premcharran and Harricharran Samaroo, who were fatally shot during a robbery at their mother’s house on December 31 last year. Ramnarine had also previously been charged with another murder while Tameshwar had served time in prison.

Residents thronged the area

Commander of B Division, Paul Langevine last evening told reporters that the operation clearly shows that the police are always working. “I’m hoping people sleep more comfortable and they feel more at ease and let them know the police are always working. Sometimes, they get the impression and they believe that the police are not working but we are always working. If the people are not sleeping comfortable, we are not sleeping comfortable,” he said.

Police photos of the items found at the scene of the shooting.

Stabroek News was told that Berbice police received information that the men were hiding out in the backlands and ventured to the area. However, upon noticing the lawmen, the suspected bandits armed themselves, which led to a shootout during which they were fatally shot.

This publication was told that four weapons, including an AR-15 firearm, were among items found with the dead bandits.

Notably, an AR-15 was used to carry out a robbery committed on the Z-One Chinese Supermarket located at Lot 16 B Albion Front, Corentyne, two Saturdays ago. In that robbery, the bandits stole $250,000 in cash and one cellular phone. Before escaping, they had opened fire on ranks attached to the Albion Police Station, who had arrived at the scene in their patrol vehicle.

Over the last week, there have been two reported robberies and one attempted robbery in Black Bush Polder, sending fear into the community and calls for the police to take action.

On Saturday evening, Indrawattie Dhanraj, 44, of Lot 157 Mibicuri South, Black Bush Polder, sustained injuries to her back, belly and other parts of her body, as bandits beat her during a robbery. The bandits carted off $200,000 in cash and jewellery.

Police photos of the items found at the scene of the shooting.

On Thursday evening, another rice farmer, Lennox Ramcharran, 41, of Lot 15 Johanna South, Black Bush Polder, and his family were robbed and beaten. The men, after robbing Ramcharran, held his daughter hostage during their escape. They carted off $300,000 in cash and a quantity of jewellery.

A few hours later, armed bandits attempted to rob Herman Roopnarine, 40, of Lot 35 Johanna North, Black Bush Polder. While attempting to gain entry to Roopnarine’s house, the gunmen discharged several rounds towards the man and his teenage daughters.

The three killed yesterday had been on the police’s radar. Following the murder of the Samaroo brothers, police had received information that Shivgobin had fled to Suriname but returned to Bush Lot, Corentyne, where he was hiding out in a friend’s house. However, he was never found.

In relation to the Jagmohans, Ramnarine and another brother, Neshan Jagmohan, 27, of Hampshire Squatting Area, Corentyne, were imprisoned on a murder charge. In October 2013, the Jagmohans were charged with the murder of businessman Devindra Deodat, also known as “Dave” that occurred during an armed robbery.

In June 2017, Neshan and Ramnarine were ambushed in prison by a gang of three men. Neshan succumbed to his injuries at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital. Ramnarine had been released for about a month now.

At the time of the prison brawl, Tameshwar, also known as ‘Pampee’, was also in jail.  

The police this morning issued the following release:

Acting on information received that strange persons were seen in the backlands of the Mibicuri, Blackbush Polder area, a team of police ranks under the command of a Senior Officer proceeded to the said area about 15:35h yesterday Sunday May 19, 2019 and whilst searching came under rapid gunfire; they immediately took up tactical positions and returned fire in the general direction from where the gunshots were coming.

The exchange lasted for about five minutes and after it subsided,the ranks combed the area and three males were found motionless with suspected gunshot injuries.

The men, two of whom are known characters; one, Kelvin ‘Kelly ‘ Shivgobin was being sought for a double murder which occurred on 2018-12-31. The second has been identified as Nesham Jagmohan and the other is presently unidentified .

A pistol, two revolvers, a rifle, three magazines, two hundred and fifty-three (253) rounds of live ammunition and seven spent shells were found at the scene in close proximity of the men.  

Additionally the ranks found three haversacks containing the following items :

– two yellow metal chains

-four yellow metal earrings

-two yellow metal finger rings

-two silver bands

-a yellow metal band

-a silver pendant

-$609,330.00 Guyana currency and two foreign currency notes.

-two bulletproof vests

-five cellular phones

-a solar charger

-torch lights

-crowbar ,knife and cutlass

-flash drive

-thighs with eye holes

-topes and mask

-duck tape and gloves and

-200 grams of cannabis

They were pronounced dead on arrival at the Port Mourant Public Hospital.

Investigation in progress.