Bhagat Ram Jailal, also called “Baggot or Davo,” of Lot 49 Ocean Garden, Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara, was found hanging in a cell at the Leonora Police Station on Monday at about 5:30h.
Leonora Police Station
Based on reports received, the 61-year-old farmer had been arrested on Sunday at about 13:00h following an allegation that he had molested a 12-year-old female.
After vehemently denying the allegation, he had been placed in the lock-ups as the Police continued their investigations, but on Monday morning he was found hanging by his shirt from the window grill.
The Police have confirmed that there were four other prisoners in the cell when Jailal met his demise. An investigation has been launched into the man’s demise.
When Guyana Times contacted Bibi Jailal, a daughter of the dead man, she explained that she also had received the news of her father’s demise on Monday morning.
“All the Police tell me is that my father passed away… When I asked how, they tell meh that he hang heself… Something nah right; he and four other people went in de cell, and he dead… Something happen in deh,” the woman surmised.
The grieving daughter recalled that she was at home on Sunday when her brother called to relate that their father was arrested and was being held at the Leonora Police Station.
“I went to the station, but when I reach, the Police already put he in the cell, and they say I couldn’t reach he,” she told the Guyana Times.
Prompted to comment on the allegation her father had faced, the daughter posited that she could not swear for her father, but she noted that the child whom he has been accused of molesting is a close relative.
“He actually bring up she…and I nah know what happen, or if meh father do anything to the child…I can’t tell,” the woman said.
She related that after the allegation had been made on Sunday, she went to the child to enquire. “The gal tell me that is not now meh father does interfere with she, he use to do it all de time…so I ask she, ‘If he use to do it all the time, why you never tell someone about it?’ but she nah answer”.
The alleged victim reportedly resides with her mother and other siblings at Parika, EBE, but they would frequent the Jailal home at Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara. The dead man’s daughter has refused to believe that her father had been a child molester.
“I don’t know why he do it, if he do it”, she said in a solemn voice.
A sister-in-law of the dead man told the Guyana Times that she is in a state of shock at the passing of Jailal. “When meh husband — which he is he eldest brother — dead, he (Jailal) was here all de time helping out… I never know he to be a bad person; he de always helpful,” the woman stated.
She explained that, up to the time of his demise, Jailal had been taking care of his grandchildren, who are motherless.
Jailal’s daughter, 29-year-old Dhanwantie Ram of Parika Façade, East Bank Essequibo, had been strangled to death by her husband following a rocky relationship.
