Tomb of elderly woman vandalised at Zeelugt Cemetery
The tombs that were vandalised (The News Desk photos)
The tomb of a 79-year-old woman, formerly of Tuschen New Scheme, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), who was laid to rest at the Zeelugt Cemetery on Saturday, was broken into one day later.
It was reported that the coffin was removed from the tomb. However, according to Police officials, family members have reported that upon inspection, everything was intact.
The desecration of the tomb has left the family shocked and saddened. They remain clueless as to the reason for committing such an act. They, however, described the incident as disrespectful not only to the dead but also to the grieving family.
The discovery was reportedly made on Sunday by a man who was visiting the cemetery. Local authorities have initiated an investigation to determine the motives behind the tomb raid and identify the perpetrators involved.
Only a year ago, the tomb of 55-year-old Calawattie Rattiram of Tuschen, EBE, was broken into at the same cemetery. The woman was buried two days prior to the vandalism.
It was reported that the dead woman’s daughter, Sobrina Benjamin, received the call that her mother’s tomb was vandalised. The discovery was made by several men, who went to the area to cut trees.
“When I go, the coffin was pulled out and the mother’s body was seen half-naked, her underwear was off and her feet in a triangle position. Leonora Police informed were on scene,” the woman had told Guyana Times.
Immediately after the discovery, the woman said her mother’s body was placed back into the tomb and reburied.
