RANKS from “ F” Division Headquarters of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) are expected to travel to Mabaruma today to investigate an incident in which several reportedly drunk army and police officers allegedly assaulted persons in the community of Hosororo Hill early Sunday morning.Police Commander Rabindranath Budhram told the Guyana Chronicle on Monday that he is aware of the incident and that the ranks from Headquarters will travel to Mabaruma to investigate and take statements on the issue. He said before any action can be taken, the ranks will try to find out what exactly occurred that Sunday morning.
He noted, however, that if the police officers involved are found to be out of line, they will be disciplined accordingly. “What I know for sure is that the police were there,” he said, noting that he was not certain of the soldiers’ involvement in the incident.

Reports are that the incident resulted from a fight between a young man from the community and an army rank earlier on Saturday night at a football match which was being played under floodlights at Kumaka, the area’s main business district.

One of the young men told this newspaper that his friend was involved in a fight with the army rank, who was intoxicated, and the latter may not have been pleased with the result. He said the fight stemmed from an argument the two had moments before.

He recounted that he parted the men and decided to take his friend home to Hosororo Hill to avoid further trouble. Another friend joined the two.

Later, at about 4 a.m, he said, he was awakened by persons hitting against his bedroom door and calling on him to wake up. He said he told the men, who identified themselves as the police, that they had no warrant; and while he questioned their presence, one of the ranks assaulted him while verbally abusing his grandfather.

“He tell he that he can do as he please, and even the President can’t do he anything,” the man recalled. He said he recognized the ranks who are well known to the area, as well as three army ranks, including a driver and a lieutenant.

The men then placed him aback the army vehicle and proceeded to the home of his friend, the young man who was involved in the fight. While there, the men allegedly physically assaulted the man’s mother while searching her home for her son. He said the men then proceeded to another house, where they “kicked down the door and start haul the people out”.

While this was happening, persons telephoned the police station at Mabaruma while residents blocked the roadway with a car and several benches.

The man said he was fearful, since the men were heavily intoxicated and were aiming their weapons at him and his two friends while they lay aback the army vehicle and recounted the fight that occurred earlier in the night.

Persons at Mabaruma reported that the police officers left the police station without the permission of the officer-in-charge and other senior officers since the seniors appeared unaware of the ranks’ presence when the police station was called as the incident transpired.

The young men were charged for assaulting the police and were each released on $15,000 bail. They were told that they will appear in court at Mabaruma on May 16th.

The incident has soured army relations in the community, as many persons have objected to the unprofessional actions of the officers. On Monday, persons reported that the communities in the Mabaruma sub-region are not taking the issue lightly, and some persons were calling on the police and army ranks to be removed from the area.