By Michel Outridge

DEVANAND Sanichar, 13, of Plantain Walk, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was reportedly chopped and beaten to death by a group of men following an argument at a ‘wedding house’ in the village on Sunday night.The incident reportedly occurred at approximately 23:30hrs at the Plantain Walk Access Road, in Triumph, not far away from where the lad lived.

According to the police, Sanichar, who was at a function in the village, had earlier had an altercation with some men over a girl. He reportedly left the function and returned with a cutlass, whereupon the argument continued.

Reports are that one of the persons with whom he had the argument took the cutlass away from the teen and dealt him a chop to his head; and that whilst on the ground, he was given a severe beating with a stick.

The Guyana Chronicle has learnt that three persons are in custody, assisting with the investigation but the primary suspect is currently on the run.

11 HOUSES AWAY
Mother of the deceased, Sookdai Sanichar told this newspaper that she, along with other relatives and her son, were at a wedding some 11 houses away from theirs, when at around 23:00h, she saw him leave.

Reports are that the teen had been drinking beers before he left the ‘wedding house’ with a friend who frequented their home.

The grieving mother of four said that within 15 minutes of his leaving, she was informed that he was lying lifeless on the street.
She said she immediately left the wedding and went to verify what she had been told, and upon arrival, found that he was indeed lying in a pool of blood on the street, with a gaping chop wound to his head.

According to the woman, her son’s body bore other marks of violence.

She said it was based on the information given the police by another teen, who reportedly saw what happened, that three persons are now in custody.

The teenager reportedly saw a group of men, all of whom reside in Beterverwagting, chopping Sanichar as he attempted to defend himself with a piece of wood. It is believed that while the teenager was attacked by five men, the prime suspect is still at large.

NEW TO COMMUNITY
And according to sources, he not only recently moved to the community and befriended the teenager, but would invite him out from time to time.

“I need justice for my son,” the lad’s mother said, “because he was a good person. He didn’t drink a lot, didn’t t’ief nor smoke; and whoever killed him should face the full force of the law.”

As she told the Guyana Chronicle, Devanand, who was her ‘first-born’, attended Lusignan Secondary, but due to circumstances, she was forced to take him out of school.

His father, meanwhile, said he was not around when the incident occurred, and is at a loss as to why anyone would want to kill his son.

The teen would have turned 14 on September 23.