THREE men are in police custody, assisting with investigations into the death of 26-year-old Suresh Nandkishore, called ‘Ravo’, of Handsome Tree, Mahaica, following an altercation with neighbours over land.Also under investigation is the wounding of Suresh’s father, 52-year-old Gopaul Nandkishore, called ‘Jai; and his brother, 31-year-old Parmanand Nandkishore, called ‘Davo’, all of the same Handsome Tree, Mahaica.

Police yesterday confirmed that the incident occurred around 1300h on Tuesday, at Handsome Tree, and stemmed from an age-old dispute over land between two neighbouring families. But where exactly in Handsome Tree, whether in the backdam as is suggested in some quarters or in the village itself, they did not say.
According to the police, Suresh, who was severely beaten about the body, was pronounced dead on arrival (DOA) at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). His father, they say, was also beaten about the body and hospitalised, while his brother and only sibling, ‘Davo’, was chopped on his left hand. He too, the police said yesterday, has been admitted to hospital.

Reports are that the suspects, said to be a father and two sons, are currently in detention, one at the Cove and John Police Station, and the other two at the Mahaica Police Station.
Ironically, it was the said ‘Davo’ who reportedly saved the trio from certain death three years ago by rushing them to hospital after a 14-year-old relative of theirs fed them poison-laced hassar curry.
So, the big question now is: Did ‘Davo’ Nandkishsore save the family whose lives were at stake three years ago, just so they could subsequently kill his younger brother, and seriously threaten the lives of he and his father?
As for ‘Davo’, the latest is that he was treated at the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital and sent home late Tuesday, only to suffer a relapse and had to be rushed to the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department of the GPHC, where he remained warded up until yesterday.
And contrary to what the police reported, ‘Davo’ was not only chopped on the hand, but also to the head, face, back, and chest. A relative who witnessed the state he was in when he was taken out of Mahaica Creek, said the men brutallychopped him about the body, and beat him with a heavy piece of wood. “They took the wood and punched him in every cut they made on his body,” the relative said, adding: “They ain’t got a part of he body where blood was not flowing.”
Said relative said that when ‘Davo’ found he could not take any more blows, he threw himself to the ground and pretended to be dead. It was then that they redirected their energies and attention to his father.
According to doctors at the GPHC, the dad has a 50/50 chance of recovery, as he has has not since admittance regained consciousness, and is being monitored round-the-clock at the A&E Unit. A computed tomography (CAT – Scan) done on him has determined that he suffered severe brain injury.
‘Davo’ said from where he was, he could hear the father telling his sons, “We gon wipe dem out.” The men allegedly beat ‘Jai’ mercilessly with a plank until he jumped into a trench to escape the beating.
And Suresh , who was much easier to overpower by the seemingly bloodthirsty trio, was callously chopped until he dropped dead. A Chartered Accountant by profession, he pursued his studies in the US.
Meanwhile, their mother, Mrs. Sabo Nandkishore was inconsolable on learning of the death of her son, and the near death of her other son and husband. Fortunately, she did not accompany them to the backdam, or else she too, might have been killed. She has taken the incident badly.
Davo’s wife, Dolly, is in shock and at times hysterical. Davo and Dolly just last week welcomed a new arrival to the home, and yesterday marked his seventh day, but they were unable to celebrate the happy occasion.
Relatives of the Nandkishores said that Jai and his sons had gone to the backdam to fence the land under dispute. The matter had been resolved in the courts, and in their favour, but the neighbours apparently were bent on getting it and so created a fracas.

(By Shirley Thomas)