Pregnant woman beaten as bandits brutalize Num.19 Village family

Five armed men invaded the home and business of a Number 19 Village, East Berbice Corentyne family on Wednesday night and threatened to kill them as they demanded cash and valuables.

The Suraj Supermarket was still filled with customers at around 22:00hrs when the gunmen attacked.

The owner, 33-year-old Dewan Ramdeo told News Room that he was in the shop with his 15-year-old daughter when he was accosted by two of the five men who shouted “get down! get down! this is a stick-up!”

The teenager attempted to run away when she fell and injured her foot; one of the gunmen then grabbed her and threatened to shoot her.

Customers who were outside the supermarket were taken inside and made to lie face down as the men ransacked the place.

The gunmen escaped with approximately $650,000 cash, $50,000 in phone cards, jewellery, three cellphones and several food items including Sausage and Ensure.

Some of the customers were trampled on as the bandits made their way around the supermarket, while one customer was gun-butted to the head.

“We were beaten like dogs,” one customer said.

One of the bandits beat the owner with a cutlass and threatened to shoot him if he did not give up the cash.

Meanwhile, a pregnant relative who has been staying by Ramdeo for the past four days was also badly beaten during the ordeal.

The woman, who prefers to remain anonymous, told News Room she was in the upper flat of the building when two of the bandits, armed with guns, attacked her.

They beat the pregnant woman in the head with a cutlass and robbed her of US$1,000, $15,000 in cash and jewellery. She received several stitches to the head.

This is the third time the businessman was attacked by bandits. Thus far, no arrests were made as police continue to hunt the perpetrators.