POLICE have released the men, who were held, over last weekend, following the break-in at Guyana Rice Producers Association (GRPA) Office at Crane, West Coast Demerara. Investigators said there was not sufficient evidence to continue holding the suspects for the report that five bandits carted off more than $2M on November 23 after assaulting the two security guards, as well.
One of the guards, Bissoondyal Rattan has since undergone a surgical eye operation at Woodlands Hospital and is unable to work because of the extent of the injuries he suffered during the robbery.
The other guard, Rampersaud Singh is also still on sick leave and had to pay a return visit to a doctor.
Armed men cut the fence to the GRPA premises, subdued the unarmed guards, then broke through the doors in the 03:00hrs invasion.
GRPA Finance Administration Manager Jean Sahadeo said the accommodation of several employees was ransacked and the robbers destroyed the locks on both the front and back doors.
The burglarised building houses several offices including that of the GRPA General Secretary Dharamkumar Seeraj.

Used violence
That is one of two robberies in which the attackers used violence. The other was at Ocean View, Uitvlugt, also on West Coast Demerara, in which a goldsmith’s home was invaded by two gunmen, who severely beat him and took away a quantity of jewels and money on November 24.
No one has been arrested for that either but police investigations into it are continuing, too.
The goldsmith, Suresh (only name stated) also known as Michael recounted, to the Guyana Chronicle, that he had gone out and shortly after he returned home about 20:45 hrs, a yellow colour ‘Raum’ vehicle pulled up in front of his house.
He said he ventured out of his yard to ascertain who was in the vehicle but, as he reached the gate, he saw two men armed with guns approaching him.
Suresh said he started screaming for help and one of the men dealt him some blows with a gun at the back of his head, inflicting wounds.
The other attacker confronted his wife, Wellama Suresh, who was in a hammock and relieved her of a gold bangle while demanding cash and jewels.
The two bandits then escorted Suresh and his wife into their kitchen which is situated on the lower flat of their house and demanded to know where they had money and jewellery.
The bandits then proceeded to escort the husband and wife to the upper flat but half way up one of the bandits’ cell phone rang and, on the suggestion of the other, they fled.
After the 15 minutes ordeal, neighbours informed the couple that a third bandit was waiting a short distance away, presumably on watch and he may have made the cell phone call to warn his confederates that help was on the way for Suresh and his wife.
Suresh said the bandits took away $30,000 and a few pieces of gold.