THE death of 38-year-old Mahendra Singh of Philadelphia, East Bank Essequibo, is now being treated as a murder as police ranks conduct investigations following reports that he was allegedly struck by another man while drinking when an argument ensued.

Singh, who works with a family in the rice production business, met his demise after resting at the home of his employer at Philadelphia, EBE, where he sometimes reside.

Yesterday Bissoondai Sammy, Singh’s sister, related to the Guyana Chronicle that her brother was in the village drinking with his good friend when an argument broke out between them and they got into a fight.

The woman said that when her brother came to her home on Tuesday afternoon he was bleeding from the head and another sister cleaned his wound and he had a bath before going to his employer’s residence a few villages away.

This publication was told that his employer visited relatives of the dead man early yesterday morning and informed them that Singh was frothing and advised that they should take him to the hospital.

While the employer was still at the house, he reportedly received a call from his wife telling him that the man was now motionless.

Sammy explained that when she arrived at the home of Singh’s employer she saw her brother lying on his back and when she turned him over she realised that he was lifeless. An alarm was raised and the police were called in.

This newspaper understands that the man with whom he had the quarrel and fight is now in police custody. Police are also questioning a number of persons who were said to be in the rum shop with the deceased and main suspect when the incident occurred.

(By Leroy Smith)