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Multiplex Mall owner shot dead in home invasion – $5M reward offered
Guyana’s business fraternity was left in shock yesterday after bandits invaded the home of Regent Multiplex Mall owner Ganesh ‘Boyo’ Ramlall and shot him dead.
Ramlall, 48, was reportedly shot about seven times, including to the head a few minutes after he had returned to his Lot C La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara home just after Saturday midnight.
Ramlall’s relatives and friends have responded by posting a $5M reward for information that would lead to the capture and prosecution of his killers.
Dead: Ganesh Ramlall
Ramlall is the proprietor of the popular Regent Multiplex Mall on Regent Street as well as other business interests.
From all indications, the attack was a robbery, which was prematurely aborted when an alarm was raised by the businessman’s wife and neighbours began responding.
Neighbours reportedly fired warning shots but by then Ramlall was already dead and his killers had fled.
Police in a press release stated that about 00:10 hours yesterday, businessman Ganesh Ramlall, 48, of La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara, had just returned home and went to use the outside bathroom when he was confronted by four men who shot him about his body and took away his licensed firearm, jewellery and a wallet and escaped.
Ganesh Ramlall was later pronounced dead on arrival at the West Demerara Regional Hospital.
But contrary to the police report, Ramlall’s firearm was not taken by the bandits.
According to a traumatised Monica Ramlall, the businessman’s wife of 24 years, her husband had gone out on Saturday evening to a barbecue and a wake house.
At about midnight, he called and said he was coming home.
The wife said she opened the door and he entered the home. He told her he had brought barbecue chicken for her.
However, according to the wife, she told him that it was late and since they had to get up early yesterday to help with a neighbour’s religious work, she would retire to bed in the upper flat of their two story house.
According to reports, the businessman remained downstairs and after grabbing a bite, he went outside to use the outdoor bathroom. It was then that the bandits struck.
Ramlall’s wife, Monica
A relative points to the spot where Ganesh was slain
His wife recalled hearing shouts.
“I hear Boyo shout “thief, thief!” she said.
There were rapid gunshots and realising that something terrible was happening, the businessman’s wife quickly shut the door at the end of the inner stairway that led from the bottom flat.
By this time, one of the two teenage daughters, who was aroused by the commotion, contacted a relative a few houses away.
A neighbour who heard the gunshots and who is also a licenced firearm holder reportedly fired several shots in the air to scare away the gunmen.
“I called for Boyo but there was no answer,” the neighbour said.
Apparently, his initial intervention caused the bandits to prematurely abandon their mission and escaped, but only after they had stripped Ramlall of a gold chain and a band.
They had also snatched a bag which they thought had contained money but later threw it away when they realized that it contained nothing of worth. They also left behind a ring that was on Ramlall’s finger.
Neighbours said that one of the bandits in their hasty retreat, fired a shot at one of the bedrooms, where the businessman’s wife and two daughters were screaming for help.
Ganesh with his wife and daughter
The businessman’s wife said when the shooting had died down, she ventured downstairs and saw the back door open and her husband slumped on the ground, by the doorway. He was motionless and there was blood on the ground.
An initial examination of Ramlall’s body revealed that he had been shot in the head and chest.
Yesterday, at the businessman’s home, several business persons and relatives converged on the home, in deep shock after confirming the dreaded news.
Family and friends of Ganesh ‘Boyo’ Ramlall are now criticising the slow police response and are calling for justice. One relative alleged that it took ranks from the Leonora Police Station about two hours to respond.
Ramlall was described as a loving fellow who was known to all and was well respected.
The businessman, who started out in the Stabroek Market, selling garlic and potatoes, was a staunch Hindu.
As a matter of fact, he was president of the Uma Mahaeshwar Mandir in La Jalousie, which he helped to build.
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