That was originally a casual arrest of a known character who was wanted for questioning in relation to some unlawful acts committed in Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice turned out on Saturday to be the arrest of a suspect in a murder that was committed there since February 2016.
Dead: Saitanya Kishundyal
Office-in-Charge of the Rose Hall Police Outpost, Sergeant Philbert Wilbur, on Saturday arrested a Rose Hall Town man who was wanted for questioning in relation to the commission of some unlawful acts in Rose Hall Town; but during interrogation, the man admitted that he was present when 21-year-old Saitanya Kishundyal was shot and killed in February 2016.
Reports are that on February 4, 2016, Kishundyal of Rose Hall Town, Corentyne was closing the gate to his residence when he was confronted by a gunman. In the ensuing scuffle, he was shot to the abdomen, and died a few days later in hospital. The murder was eventually listed as unsolved.
Kishundyal was returning home after attending a religious function at Corriverton, some 30 miles away. Surveillance footage which was seen by this publication suggest that four persons had entered Kishundyal‘s yard to await his return home. At 21:57 hrs. on that fateful day, his car pulled into the driveway and he exited the vehicle to open the gate. In the footage, Kishundyal was seen driving under his house, and as he opened the door to exit the vehicle, a lone gunman approached him from behind. Within three seconds of the ensuing scuffle, a shot was fired. Three other men were immediately seen running out of the yard, along with the gunman.
Although shot in the abdomen, Kishundyal went after the fleeing men, but did not venture far past the open gate. He later returned holding his abdomen, and threw himself on a bench. It is believed that the bandits had intended to use Kishundyal to get his parents to open the door.
Reports are that the suspect confessed on Saturday to being present when Kishundyal was shot. Divisional Commander, Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam, related that the suspect also provided investigators with the names and addresses of two other persons who were present at the time of that shooting. Amsterdam said the two have since been arrested, and all three of the men are accusing one another of being the one who had pulled the trigger to discharge the bullet that killed Kishundyal. The men are expected to be charged shortly, but Police are still looking for the fourth person who was at the scene when the shooting occurred. (Andrew Carmichael)
