Police arrest suspect in robbery, murder of Campbellvile businessmen

A SUSPECT has been arrested in the shooting robbery/murder of 43-year -old businessman Ashook Ragghu of 77 Pike Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, which occurred last Monday in the vicinity of the Botanical Gardens on Vlissengen Road in Georgetown. That suspect is in police custody assisting with the investigations.

Two bandits on a Honda CG motorcycle had apparently traced the couple from a city bank which the couple had left in their burgundy coloured vehicle, PGG 8291, after withdrawing money. One eyewitness told the Guyana Chronicle that the traffic light on Vlissengen Road near the entrance to the Botanical Gardens was ‘on red’ when the bandits caught up with the couple and shot Raghu dead. Raghu’s wife, Shyrazabin, was also shot in the thigh and toe, and is now a patient at the Georgetown Hospital.

According to the eyewitness, the businessman was heading south on Vlissengen Road, while the bandits were travelling north.

“After the car stopped at the traffic light,” the eyewitness said, “the bandits, who look to be in their mid-30s, then went up to the man car, trying to snatch a bag. But as they try to get the bag, the man was fighting (them off).

“As the man fight back, the bandits then shot him. When the man was coming out the car to go to the hospital in another vehicle, he was hollering for his life; his wife, who was also shot, was screaming. A car then took them to the hospital.”

The two bandits reportedly made good their escape after the deed was done, with the pillion rider still carrying the gun in his hand.

The police have issued a release which detailed that “at about 13:00hrs on Monday, August 18, 2014, businessman Ashook Ragghu, 43 years, of Pike Street, C’ville, Georgetown, and his wife Shyrazabin Ragghu, 49 years, were in a motor vehicle at a traffic light on Vlissengen Road, Georgetown when they were attacked by two men on a motor cycle, one of whom was armed with a firearm.

“The armed man discharged rounds at the victims, fatally wounding Ashook Rahgghu to his chest, and injuring Shyrazabin Ragghu to her right foot. The perpetrators escaped with a bag containing an undisclosed sum of cash and a licensed firearm and ammunition.

Shyrazabin Ragghu has been admitted to hospital for medical treatment. Investigations are in progress.

(By Asif Hakim)