– Three in custody

By Nafeeza Yahya

THE Berbice police are now questioning three persons as they probe the gruesome murders of three men along a dam at Black Bush Polder.The bodies of Pawan Chandradeo, 37, called “Suresh” and “Jug Up”; his son Jaikarran Chandradeo, 16, called “Kevin”, and his brother-in-law Naresh Rooplall, 35, called “Teeka Bai” and “Mice” were discovered in the Cokrite Creek Savannah on Friday morning by farmers heading to their farms.
The police had detained a popular rice farmer who has properties close to where the men were found dead, but he was subsequently released. However, one of his workmen is still being held for questioning.

According to police sources, the man was seen with the victims earlier in the day while in the backlands.

The source also confirmed that two security guards who were stationed at the sluice where Alvin Pawan’s 13-year-old son was told to wait are in custody. They were reportedly overheard saying “like them boys shoot them man at the back” when what appeared to be gunshots were heard.

The father and son had a single gunshot wound to their heads, while Rooplall had a gunshot wound to his neck.

As word spread of the triple homicide, persons have been flocking to the Chandradeo’s home to express sympathy to the family and friends of the deceased.

When this newspaper visited the home Saturday, high- ranking members of the opposition were present to offer their condolences and support to the surviving wife and children of the victims.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo expressed sympathy via telephone to Pam, the wife of Pawan Chandradeo.

AT the home, parliamentarian Zulfikar Mustapha condemned the act and urged the residents to be supportive of the police as they continue their investigations to bring those responsible to justice.

Chandradeo and his family were well respected in the community for their stance against violence.

Several persons described him as being a very reliable, hardworking family man, who was well-mannered and is usually the one to prevent fights whenever he is around.

As such, the nature of his death has shocked many, as questions surround the motive for the murders.

Fazal, who lives a few houses away from the Chandradeos, wants the police to be vigilant in their approach and put those responsible behind bars so that the community can feel safer
again.

“Them [Chandradeo and his son] never troubled anyone. He was always with his family or at work. I don’t know why someone would want to kill him. Let the police find those responsible quick, lock them up, so the people can feel safe again. ”

Another man, Vicky Singh, 32, said he had known Pawan Chandradeo all his life and would work with him from time to time in the rice fields. He said he never knew him to be someone to have trouble with anyone.

“I know him since I was a boy. I have never seen him in a fight. Whenever people got involved in fights or argued, he always tried to make peace.”

The three men, along with Pawan’s 13-year-old son Alvin Chandradeo had left their home at approximately 15:00 hrs. on Wednesday afternoon to go on a fishing trip in the backlands.

The young Alvin — Chandradeo’s second child — said they had left for the creek to catch Hassar, and when they reached the irrigation sluice, his father asked him to wait, since they had a bit more distance to go.

The sluice has a security post, and it was thought that Alvin would be safe there, perhaps for just a few hours, until they returned.

Charandeo was a rice farmer and a father of four. His teenage son who was gunned down alongside him worked in the rice fields with him.

Only a month ago, Chandradeo renewed his vows with Pam, his wife of 16 years, following a brief separation. Apart from Alvin, he leaves to mourn another son, aged 11, and a nine-year-old daughter.

His parting words to his daughter Rea were: “Me guh come back and we gon cook hassar and eat.”

A pregnant Tejwattie Rooplall, the wife of Naresh Rooplall, said they had been married for only a year and a half. Rooplall is five months pregnant. The couple’s first child, a daughter, is 11months old.

She is at a loss as to what will become of her and her family, since he was the only breadwinner for the family.

The Rooplall and Chandradeo families have both lost their breadwinners and are left with many unanswered questions.

Pam Chandradeo said the incident has left her family devastated and at a loss.

“They killed my husband, son and brother worse than criminals. They didn’t deserve this; they never troubled anyone, they never hurt anyone.”