By Shirley Thomas

A PHAGWAH celebration in Second Street, Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara on Wednesday afternoon turned sordid with the sudden murder of a man, who moments before had left a neighbour’s home where there was feasting, dancing and jollification.Dead is Tularam Sonalall, also called “Rajesh” and “Bushman.” He was stabbed in the neck with a ‘sting ray’ bone, allegedly by a man with whom he had an argument.
The stabbing death took place shortly after 15:00hrs. A woman who lives not far away from where Sonalall dropped dead, said he lived alone, worked at sea and was well liked by neighbours.

She painfully recalled that he had spent the greater part of the day at her home, having fun with other friends and later left. The woman even mentioned having cooked and served the guests (including Sonalall) with dhal puri and boulanger, parasad, channa and other sweet meats.
Moments after he left, the woman said an alarm was raised, stating that a man had been murdered and was lying on the road, but when she raced to the scene and saw his body on the road, she could not believe what she was seeing.

Meanwhile, a man who also lives close to Sonalall, said he was made to understand that the two men who were relatives, had gone to a nearby shop and were imbibing alcohol when an argument broke out between them.
They both left the shop and seemed to be headed in the direction of Sonalall’s home when he was stabbed. The man recalled that he was upstairs in his home when he heard an argument on the road and one appeared to be pursuing the other. When he looked out the window, he saw Sonalall lying lifeless.
The neighbour, who declined to be named, blamed the incident on alcoholism, stating that intoxication was in a large measure responsible for the men, in particular, displaying such behaviours.

“We recognised that he had a drinking problem and needed attention, and we as neighbours, gave him lots of attention.”
Generally, residents spoke well of the deceased, stating that he had worked at sea, but whenever he was at home, he would look out for neighbours and cooperate with them in any way possible.

“Receiving such news is really hard on us. He will be sadly missed,” neighbours contend.
The police were summoned and the man was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
There are however, unconfirmed reports that the alleged killer may have been injured as well. He was taken into custody as police continue their investigation.