Miner dies, others injured after Siparuni River camp altercation 

Rowell La Cruz, a 32-year-old miner of Warapoka Village, North West District, Region One, died on Tuesday after he was allegedly attacked by three men at a mining camp near the Siparuni River.

In a release, Police Headquarters said two other men (ages 36 and 25) were also injured in the alleged attack.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Rowell and another man, both employed at a dredging operation, were in the kitchen area when they were approached by three men who accused them of stealing gold from a sluice box. Rowell and his colleague were then ordered to a nearby watch camp where they met another man.

It is alleged that the three suspects, armed with a handgun, cutlasses, and a mattock handle, dealt the men several blows about their bodies, causing injuries, after which they left the area.

The injured men were assisted by public-spirited citizens and taken to the riverfront. However, Rowell succumbed to his injuries while being transported, and his body was later placed at a nearby camp.

Police ranks subsequently visited the scene where Rowell’s body was found lying motionless with marks of violence about his body. The body was escorted to the Linden Hospital Complex Mortuary, where it was pronounced dead by a doctor on duty and placed there awaiting a post-mortem examination.

The two other men who were injured during the incident were taken to separate medical facilities, where they were seen by medical personnel and admitted.

Police are currently making efforts to locate the three suspects as investigations continue.