Shopkeeper found dead with multiple stab wounds

Jun 10, 2015 News

When patrons went to Pooran Lalchand’s business establishment at Block Eight, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara yesterday morning, and got no response to their calls, they assumed that the elderly gentleman who lived alone was sleeping late.

Dead: Pooran Lalchand

But as the morning progressed and Lalchand’s shop remained closed they became suspicious and contacted the police. They assumed the worst, but they were not prepared for what was later discovered by the lawmen who went into his house to investigate.
The police found 59-year-old Lalchand lying in a pool of blood in his living room. A closer examination of his body revealed that he had been stabbed at least five times about his body, while his head was bashed in with a blunt object.
Police in a press release stated that around 10:30 hours yesterday, the body of Pooran Lalchand, of Mon Repos, ECD, was found in his house with several suspected stab wounds.
Two men and a woman were being questioned up to late last evening.
However, this newspaper understands that the persons in custody are actually close relatives of Lalchand, who investigators say were involved in a legal matter with him.
Detectives say they found no sign of forced entry, which suggested that whoever killed the shopkeeper was known to him and had access to his house.
“One of the doors was open when we got to the scene,” a police source said.
When this newspaper visited the location yesterday, Lalchand’s immediate

Crime Scene Investigators have secured Lalchand’s house for further processing.

neighbours were not around.
A resident of the community however told Kaieteur News that he was contacted by another villager who told him that he went to Lalchand’s house for his early morning “drink” but got no response when he called out to him.
The man alerted neighbours who also tried to arouse Lalchand but were unsuccessful.
“When the police come, plenty people come out and waiting fuh hear wha happen to he. We thought that he just get sick and dead. Is later we hear that is murder he get murder,” a resident who asked not to be named told this newspaper.
There are reports that persons who live in proximity heard heavy coughing coming from Lalchand’s house late Monday night.
Another report was that screams were heard, but no one took it seriously.
Crime scene detectives dusted the premises and lifted fingerprints, which they hope will provide some of the answers they are seeking.
Lalchand’s murder is the 75th so far for this year and is the 11th within the past 10 days.