A SENIOR police officer was shot early Saturday morning, moments after intervening in an argument between two private security guards and approximately seven Guyana Defence Force soldiers, which had the potential of becoming physical.

The Guyana Chronicle was told Saturday by sources close to the incident that Assistant Superintendent Deoanand Ruplal, who was on duty in civilian clothing, was in the Jags Bar at Tabatinga, Lethem, when he observed that several men were having an altercation.
The senior police officer approached the men who are all aware that he is a serving member of the Guyana Police Force, according to information this newspaper received.
The officer told the men that should they continue their disorderly behaviour, he would be forced to stop the night’s activities at the regular Friday night bar. However, two of the men who are employed with a mining company as security officers began chucking the police officer who opted to retreat as one of the men also drew a weapon.
The GDF soldiers also retreated, however, shortly after the men heard shots fired in the air and within seconds Rooplall realised that he had been shot in the foot as it began feeling numb, according to sources. The lights of the place were turned on and the two men who are employed with the mining company as security guards were taken into custody.
It was related to this publication that the two men attempted to give the police the impression that the shots fired were done so by the GDF ranks, something that persons who were in the club denied, since according to them the soldiers were not carrying weapons at the time of the incident.
The Jags night spot is an enclosed facility and is one of three sports facilities in the area where persons would usually visit at nights, mostly Friday and Saturday nights.
Meanwhile, in a police press release yesterday, the Guyana Police Force said that they were investigating the incident. According to the police, the incident occurred around 03:15hrs yesterday morning which saw the senior police officer being shot to a toe on his left foot. This newspaper was told that the toe was not severed but broke as a result of the gunshot which went through the toe.
The officer was treated at the Lethem Hospital where he received medication and was sent away. An x-ray was also conducted which confirmed that the toe was indeed broken.
The police up to late yesterday were checking their records to see if the two men who are employed as security guards are licensed to carry personal firearms, or if they are licensed to carry the weapons for the company.

(By Leroy Smith)