A 40-year-old man is being sought by police in Berbice after he allegedly set fire to his home, completely destroying it, while threatening to burn his neighbours’ property.

Rajendra Balkaran, a cattle rancher of Bound Yard, Port Mourant, made good on his threats of burning his home down on Friday evening at around 20:20hrs.

According to a neighbour, Jyoti Rajaram, she was inside of her home when she heard Balkaran using a series of indecent language and hitting a cutlass against his fence shouting for “cloth” to set a fire in his house.

She added that minutes later, she saw a ball of flame emerging from the bedroom area of the man’s home. An alarm was raised and the fire service was contacted.

They arrived promptly and were able to control the blaze but were unable to save the house which was a one-flat two bedroom wooded structure.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that Balkaran, who lives alone, is an alcoholic who would constantly verbally abuse those around him and often threaten to destroy the house he occupies.

A neighbour’s house received minor damage due to the intensity of flames. Residents had formed a bucket brigade to soak the house to the side with mud and water to avoid damage from the flames.

Following the incident, Balkaran made good his escape and up to press time reminds on the run.