Three Berbice bandits wounded in three hour shootout with cops

Dec 10, 2012 News

---

 

 

– residents praise police for swift action

Police ranks operating in the East Canje, Berbice area yesterday came in for high praise after they shot and captured three would be bandits who had made several attempts to rob a family in that area.
According to information, the men who were waiting to rob a residence in Betsy Ground, Canje, when they were confronted by the police, are all now patients of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.
They have been identified as Deodat Seecharran called ‘Popcorn’, 20, of Edinburgh Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice, who was shot to his left side buttocks; Zafir Abdul, 22, of Adelphi Housing Scheme, Canje, who was shot to his left side hip; and Keshwar Harrinarine, 31 of Fyrish, Corentyne, who is nursing a wound to his right side buttocks.

The police in a statement on the matter said that about 01:00 hours yesterday, three men attempted to break into the home of Guysuco Field Foreman Rajesh Parsram, at Betsy Ground, Canje, Berbice.
According to the police, Parsram was aroused by the sounds being made and raised an alarm forcing the three men to run away, discharging a round in the direction of the house as they did so.
The Community Policing Group in the area was alerted and the ranks mobilized themselves in search of the men while the police were also informed.
The police responded quickly to the report received and while approaching the area on foot, they came under fire from the bandits, who were in the compound of a Mandir in the vicinity. The police returned fire, but the men managed to escape from the compound and headed in the direction of the backdam.
Back-up ranks were summoned and the police continued their pursuit of the men who were caught up in the Betsy Ground Cemetery and they again opened fire on the police. The police returned fire, injuring all three men in the process.
The police said they recovered a number of shotgun pellets from the residence of Rajesh Parsram and a shotgun barrel along with an empty 12 gauge shotgun casing at the cemetery.
Meanwhile reports out of the area suggest that the men were earlier in the night seen staking out Parsram’s house, which he occupies with his wife and two children.
This publication was told that the men were waiting for Parsram, who would normally come home from work at around 00:30 hrs after working the 4-12 shift. However the men’s first attempt was frustrated after the area was still heavily populated when Parsram arrived home.
However at around 01:15 hours, the men made another attempt to enter the house after opening a window on the lower flat of the building.
However they were again scared off after occupants woke up.
At this point, the police were informed of the situation and a Patrol from Reliance Police Station was immediately dispatched to the area.
Upon arrival they were greeted by gun fire from the fleeing bandits in a side street from the house where they attempted to attack. The police took cover and returned fire, as they called for back-up.
Two more units arrived promptly with a Patrol from Central police station and a CID Unit.
Gunshots resonated throughout the Central East Canje area as the gun battle led police through four villages (through Betsy Ground, Goed Bananen Land, Adelphi and Reliance and Rose Hall) and finally to the cemetery.
The police, after cordoning off the area, were able to corner the men in the St Patrick’s burial ground in Plantation Rose Hall Canje next to the Rose Hall Estate.
The entire area was cordoned off and the fleeing bandits were engaged in a three-hour exchange of gunfire with the police ranks.
After the ordeal which led the bandits and the police into the back lands, the police came out on top.
Three of the bandits were shot and wounded and taken to the New Amsterdam hospital before being transferred to the Georgetown Hospital under guard.
The police also intercepted a car that was suspected to be the getaway vehicle-HC 1390, which was being driven by Parmanand Joseph of Johns Corentyne, Berbice. He is in custody.
In the meantime, residents were high in praise for the work of the policemen involved. This publication was told that the Village Council Chairman visited the station to congratulate and commend the police. The residents are also calling on the authorities to reward the cops for the prompt and efficient work and for taking one of the notorious gangs off the streets.
At the New Amsterdam Hospital, relatives of the injured men were weeping and denying statements by visitors to the institution that the men were in the process of trying to commit a robbery when they were pursued and shot.

---

---