Notorious wanted man killed in gun battle

Apr 08, 2014 News

-19 year old accomplice escapes

Residents in the East Canje area are once again breathing a sigh of relief and are heaping praises on members of the Guyana Police Force, who shot dead notorious wanted man Deodat ‘Pop Corn’ Seecharran during a confrontation late Sunday night.

Dead Deodat ‘Pop Corn’ Seecharran

Seecharran, 21, who was wanted for at least two high profile murders, attempted murder, wounding, possession of arms and ammunition, discharging a loaded firearm and other serious crimes was shot dead around 23:15 hours on Sunday at Betsy Ground, Canje, Berbice.
Police in a press statement said, that acting on information received on Sunday night, ranks went to Back Street, Betsy Ground, Canje, Berbice, where two men were seen on bicycles.
As the police approached, one of the men opened fire on them and the police returned fire.
During the exchange Deodat Seecharran, called “Popcorn”, of Adelphi, East Canje, was shot and later pronounced dead on arrival at the New Amsterdam Hospital. His accomplice managed to escape.
Seecharran was wanted for the execution type murder of Patricia Samaroo, 64, a mother of four of Lot 101 No2 Village, East Canje, Berbice, and the wounding of her sister Annette Samaroo, 45, of Lot 10 Nursery School Street, Section B, Fyrish Village, Corentyne who was shot in the abdomen.
Sunday night was the second time that Seecharran was involved in a shootout with the police on the same dam in the Betsy Ground area.
The first time was back in December 2012, when he was wounded during a four-hour exchange of gunfire between his gang and the police in a cemetery.
Yesterday an eyewitness told this newspaper that cops at Reliance Police Station received word that some strange persons were seen in the compound of the Betsy Ground Mandir around 22:25 hrs. The police responded immediately and upon arriving at the scene, they saw no one.
However, upon checking the precincts of the compound the sleuths discovered three cell phones connected to chargers, which were attached to electrical points in the building.
The phones were collected and taken to the station.
A check of the gadgets unearthed some startling revelations.
Even as they were carrying out initial investigations, the police got further word around 23:15 hrs, that suspicious persons were again seen in the Mandir.
Once again the police swooped down on the location but this time around, using good intelligence they parked their vehicle in a side street and cautiously proceeded on foot to the Mandir.
Whilst traversing the lonely dam they noticed two men approaching on two mountain climber bicycles. The men were challenged, but instead of surrendering they chose to open fire on the cops, dropping the bicycles in the process.
The police took cover and returned fire.
After a while, the police checked the location and one of the men who was later identified as notorious wanted man Deodat “Pop Corn” Seecharran was discovered lying motionless not too far away. He was shot in his head and his left hand. His brain was splattered about the scene.
The eyewitness said that cops gave chase after Seecharran’s accomplice, but they were unsuccessful as the man darted through yards, scaled a fence and disappeared through the dense bushes.
Police believe that the escaped bandit is wounded since bloodstains and a piece of his garment were found on the fence.
The dead man had a haversack on his back which contained a number of articles including ten .32 live rounds, a quantity of clothing including a pair of camouflage pants, mosquito repellant, cell phone chargers, lighters, batteries, gloves, umbrella, slippers, pliers, screwdrivers, a copy of the Bhagwat Gita, other footwear, socks, sweet oil, shades and stockings among other items. The bandit was also wearing a stocking on his head under his cap.
Kaieteur News understands that shortly before his death, the 21-year-old Seecharran had boasted that he will only stop his banditry when he is dead.
Deodat Seecharran was on charges before the courts and was wanted pending investigations into two murders and a series of armed robberies.
Apart from the killing of Patricia Samaroo, he was also wanted for the Hampshire robbery/murder of businessman Davindra Deodat, called ‘Dave’, 34, of Hampshire Squatting Area, Corentyne which occurred in October 2013.
Deodat, the owner of Cool Runnings Trucking Service, was chopped and shot dead after a group of masked men stormed his business place.
On June 5, 2012, Seecharran was charged with two counts of robbery under arms. He was subsequently placed on $300,000 bail on each charge.
On December 17, 2012, he was charged with attempting to commit burglary; three counts of discharging a loaded firearm with intent; possession of firearm without licence and possession of ammunition without licence.
On August 13, 2013, he was again placed on bail in the sum of $100,000 on each charge. This was reduced to $50,000 each, which was paid and he was released from prison.
But Seecharran never returned to court to stand trial and the matters were subsequently proceeded with ex parte.