West Dem. businessman shot dead as bandits terrorize village

Sep 11, 2013 News

A well-known West Demerara businessman was last night shot dead after heavily armed bandits descended on his Meten-Meer-Zorg home, leaving the community in shock and anger, and continuing what has been a surge in violent crime across the country in recent weeks.

Dead: Zulficar ‘Vicky’ Namdar

Dead is Zulficar ‘Vicky’ Namdar of 76 Third Street, Meten–Meer–Zorg.
Also shot in the leg during the ordeal which lasted less than 10 minutes was Stephen Mohamed, a teenager who works part time for the family.
Namdar, in addition to running his popular grocery also has a trucking business with the Guyana Sugar Corporation and is a prominent member of the Muslim community. Crowds of shocked residents, relatives and government officials were at the scene last night.
According to Mohamed, the attack began around 20:45hrs when six men entered the business place and demanded everybody lie on the floor. A shot was immediately fired and this was what struck Mohamed after “bouncing” of the floor. One of the bandits had apparently been aiming at Namdar and missed. He again fired and the bullet, said to be from an assault rifle, struck the businessman in the throat.
“They ask for all the phones, and knock up the mistress in she head and tek a bag of money. The bossman was in the washroom.”
Mohamed was referring to Namdar’s father, Goolzar, 50, and mother, Fazila.
According to the grieving father, Vicky was his only son, and he was doing well.”Everything was going for him and he wanted his family to be happy.”
“I was in the washroom preparing for prayer and I hear one shot. I hear somebody demanding to give everything over.”
The elderly Namdar said he remained in the washroom, not knowing his son was shot. “This thing lasted five minutes. I found my son in the corner and I knew he was dead.”
Goolzar is a popular Commissioner of Oaths in West Demerara area and the Regional Vice President of the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG).

Injured: Stephen Mohamed

The bandits are believed to have escaped with jewellery, over $400,000 in cash, passports and other valuable documents.
“I am very hard hit by this. My son is of good disposition, known by lots of people and doing good business. He and his mother birthday is the same day… on May 28th. He never left home.”
The dead man’s wife and his daughter were reportedly at Enmore, on East Coast of Demerara at the time of the shooting.
Residents said that the armed gunmen quickly exited the business place, and fired several warning shots before escaping.
In recent weeks, there have been several high profile killings, raising concerns about the crime situation.