Masked gunmen terrorise Mahaica family during home invasion

A Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD) family was on Saturday evening attacked and terrorised by five masked gunmen in a three-hour ordeal that ended when the bandits confiscated their cash and jewellery.
Fruit vendor 56-year-old Lalawattie Basraj of Belmont, Mahaica, ECD, her husband Anand Basraj and their 15-year-old daughter Khenwattie Basraj, along with Nimawattie Deodat, are still traumatised by the ordeal.
Based on reports received, the five armed men invaded the premises at about 19:50h while the occupants of the two-storey wooden-and-concrete house were in the lower flat of the building.
The suspects reportedly gained entry onto the premises by scaling a fence. They then broke into the lower flat of the house and held the victims at gunpoint, binding the hands and feet of their victims before demanding cash and jewellery in a spree of terror.
Farmer Anand Basraj attempted to put up a fight, but was instead dealt several blows to his head. Upon seeing this, his wife reportedly handed over about $400,000 in cash, along with cell phones, jewellery and a laptop computer to the armed men. Afterwards, the suspects made good their escape in an unknown direction.
After realising that the men had left, the occupants managed to untie themselves and raise an alarm.
The Police were also contacted. The injured farmer was taken to the hospital where he was treated for the injuries he sustained to his head.
The police have launched an investigation into the incident, but no one has as yet been arrested.