A farm attendant was on Monday found dead with gunshot wounds at a ranch situated along the Canje River, Berbice.
Dead is Harrinarine Samaroo, 51, a labourer of Betsy Ground, East Canje.
The incident occurred sometime between 18:30h on Sunday and 13:30h on Monday. Police have detained one man for questioning.
Reports are that Samaroo and Frederick Bascom, a 25-year-old man, were at a cattle ranch situated at New Forest along the Canje River when the incident occurred.
Bascom is said to have been in a hammock on the upper flat of the camp house, which is a small zinc building while Samaroo was in the yard when Bascom reportedly felt a lash to his hand causing him to receive injuries. As a result, he jumped through a window and ran away.
There are also reports that at the same time Bascom received that lash, there was the sound of what appeared to be a gunshot.
Bascom reportedly left the area and used the cane fields to get to the road and subsequently the Reliance Police Station where the matter was reported.
According to Bascom’s mother, Roshnie Bascom, her son said they were attacked and he managed to escape. She said he was of the opinion that he was shot and ran into the bushes and hid. After a while, he made his way out to the road at New Forest and had to walk two miles in thick mud.
At that stage, he was still four miles away from the Police station.
When the Police arrived at the area, they discovered Samaroo lying on his right side in a foetal position. The body appeared to have a gunshot injury on the right side of his neck and left ear; there also seemed to be an exit wound at the back of his head.
According to Roshnie Bascom, who is in charge of the 500-acre ranch, the camp is very dangerous. The woman recalled two instances where Samaroo was attacked on the farm, including once when he was stabbed.
Meanwhile, the dead man’s sister told Guyana Times that the family has a suspect in mind after listening to the bits and pieces of information they were able to pick up.
The mother of the dead man, Chanderdai Punya, said this is the second of her six children to have died tragically within the past six months.
The woman, who is now confined to a bed, related to this publication some of the hardships she endured to raise her six children as a single parent. In tears she explained that her eldest son died late last year.
Divisional Commander, Assistant Commander Lindon Alves said an investigation has been launched into the incident.
He said that there was no one in custody for the murder. However, Roshnie Bascom said her son was detained at the Reliance Police Station in relation to the incident.
She related that when she he spoke with one of the investigators on Tuesday morning about his release, she was told that 72 hours had not expired since his detention.
“The officer told me that they could keep him for more than 72 hours.”
Samaroo and his brother had been working in the backdam for more than a decade. He leaves to mourn four sisters and a mother. (Andrew Carmichael)
