– Mibicuri on edge as police press for breakthrough

By Nafeeza Yahya
SORROW overwhelmed the small community of Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder, Wednesday as thousands gathered for the funeral of the three men who were gunned down last week. 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 by farmers in the kokerite Creek Savanah on the morning of Friday 22nd July 2016 .

Each body had a single gunshot wound that was inflicted at point-blank range. Mr Chandradeo and his son had gunshot wounds to their heads, while Rooplall had a gunshot wound to his neck. The men, along with Chandradeo’s 13-year-old son, Alvin Chandradeo, had left their home around 15:00 hrs on Thursday afternoon to go on a fishing trip in the backlands.
The murder of the men has the community on edge, with the police yet to make a breakthrough.
For the funerals, viewing was done at the home and started from 10:00 hrs, when the curious gathered in their hundreds.
The three caskets were adorned with wreaths and were lined next to each other. The wife of Chandradeo and two of his sons sat next to the casket of Mr Chandradeo, while the wife of Rooplall and her 11-month- old daughter sat on the opposite end in front of the casket bearing her husband. The casket bearing the remains of the younger Chandradeo was in the middle. His surviving nine-year- old sister and a few cousins stood at the feet of the casket; they bore blank stares for most of the time.
Tears flowed freely as the tributes were read, and as the caskets were placed in the hearse, sobs turned into loud wails as reality sunk in that the men would never be returning home.
From the home, there was a ceremony at the Life Springs Ministry church; thereafter, hundreds of vehicles followed the hearse to the Babu John cemetery where the bodies were interred in the afternoon.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum has confirmed to this publication that another suspect is in custody, taking the total to seven suspects being questioned.
The seven men were moved from Berbice to Georgetown, where the Major Crimes Unit is handling the investigations.
According to a police source, they believe the murders stemmed from a personal vendetta and a major breakthrough is expected.