POLICE were Tuesday hunting the suspect alleged to have bludgeoned and attempted to drown a 50-year-old farmer at Mahaica River backdam.
But the victim, Bhagwan Persaud, of Little Biaboo, Mahaica River, even though in a critical condition, was rescued and has lived to tell the harrowing tale.He said that on his way to work early Tuesday morning, he was pounced upon by his aggressor who was hiding behind a tree on the road to the backdam, and brutally attacked with a piece of wood, about three feet long, bursting his head in several places.
The cuts were deep and bled profusely. Under severe pain, the victim fell to the ground bleeding.
The attack took place about 300 rods away from Bhagwan’s home and another 300 rods short of reaching his farm.
But when Bhagwan thought that that was all, he had a surprise coming. The irate attacker then struggled with him, dragged him to a nearby trench and threw him into the water, attempting to drown him.
But just at that moment a tractor was heard approaching. On spotting the tractor, his attacker released him and he fell unconscious. He ‘bolted’ before the men could arrive on the scene.
The vehicle drove up and aboard were Bhagwan’s son Mirzaad, (the attacker’s son-in-law) and other co-workers who were on their way to the backdam to shy fertiliser.
The men hurriedly jumped off the tractor and rushed to Bhagwan’s rescue. Appalled at his condition, they first took him to a nearby police station and lodged a report then rushed him to the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital.
After being stabilised and given initial treatment at that hospital, he was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital by ambulance and admitted to the Accident and Emergency unit.
Persaud who was seen by this newspaper around noon Tuesday, told the Guyana Chronicle that the attack stemmed from an old family feud, and that he was accosted the day before by his son’s father-in-law, who turned up at his home and threatened that he would ‘deal with him’ in the backdam.
However, Bhagwan did not dwell too long on the threat and early the next morning set out for work as usual, but was brutally attacked by the same person who had threatened him.
He recalled that his son got married to the aggressor’s daughter just over a year ago, but from the time of their marriage, trouble began brewing since his son’s father-in-law and mother –in-law were very domineering and would always make decisions for the couple. “Dem married but she parents still in control and everything that happens in their home, she would carry and give them,” he admitted.
As the situation became unbearable, Bhagwan intervened, but incurred the wrath of Mirzaad’s father-in-law.
Written By Shirley Thomas