CHANDROUTIE Persaud, 68, of Lot 46 River View Squatting area Mahaica, East Coast Demerara was yesterday morning found dead in her bed with her hands tied behind her back and a piece of cloth stuffed in her mouth.
The 68-year-old pensioner was living at the address with her reputed husband, but although the couple had been living at the location for some time now, they reportedly shared separate rooms in the building.
The reputed husband was said to be suffering from several health complications and was not very active while Persaud, on the other hand, operated a grocery store at her home and sold greens.
According to persons in the area, the woman was last seen on Friday evening just about 21:00hrs, when she was preparing to head into her home.
Family members, friends and neighbours are of the view that the woman might have been killed sometime between the period she was last seen and early yesterday morning when her body was discovered.
They are also of the view that the person or persons who committed the dastardly act on the helpless and defenceless woman might be from the very community.
Speaking with the Chronicle yesterday at the Mahaica Police Station, one of the woman’s sons explained that he was at home with his wife when he received a call yesterday morning just after 05:00hrs informing him that his mother was dead.
The man said when he arrived at the home the police were then about to enter and they informed him that he was not to touch the body. When he was allowed to take a look at the corpse before the police commenced their investigation, he saw that his mother was lying on her side with her hands tied and cloth in her mouth.
The gentleman said that his mother had no present enemies, although he recalled that at one time several years back a man who goes by the call name “Blacka” had entered the woman’s home and inflicted several stab wounds about her body. She however survived that attack.
Chandroutie Persaud was described as a woman who looked out for folk in the community, especially those who would come to her establishment with little or no money but were still able to get items from her.
The family believe that the attack on the woman was robbery-related, though they maintained that she may have been murdered by someone from the community.
Yesterday, the Guyana Police Force through its public relations office related that two males were arrested for questioning in relation to the death of the woman. It was unclear if the man who had stabbed her several years ago, and who was identified as a reputed husband of one of her daughters, was among the two persons.

By Leroy Smith