Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Armed bandits unleash terror at Puruni

Terror was unleashed at Puruni, in Region 7, last Sunday October 2 when, around 19:00 hrs, eight armed bandits swooped down on the Piara Landing, invaded several businesses at the location and opened fire indiscriminately, terrorizing and robbing several persons of cash, raw gold and jewellery.

As the robbers continued their ruthless plunder, at least three Brazilian businessmen were shot and wounded in the process.

Among the wounded who were rescued and later treated at the Bartica Hospital are:
* Brazilian shopkeeper Benedito Docerado Oliveira, 56, shot to his right hip and robbed of $1/2M and a quantity of raw gold
* Brazilian Francisco Da Cruz Morias, 44 years, was shot to his right thigh and left foot and robbed of $140,000
* Brazilian shopkeeper Joao De Freitas Mattos, was shot to his right leg and robbed of $60,000

Others robbed, but not wounded include:
* Brazilian Mario Odessa Da Silva, robbed of jewellery and $1/2M;
* Curtis Bannette, 34 years, robbed of $110,000 and a cell phone;
* Brazilian Joao Da Conceicao, 56 years, robbed of $30,000;
* David Coates and Carlton Small, less seriously injured, were beaten about the body, and sent away after  being treated at the Bartica Hospital.

Meanwhile, a team of police ranks, acting on information received, yesterday went into another area in the Mazaruni where they reportedly arrested three suspects and recovered an Uzi Sub-Machine gun and a handgun.

The police said they also recovered the bodies of two persons who appeared to have drowned. One is that of a suspect while the other is that of a man wearing a Rasta hairstyle who was taken hostage by the perpetrators to drive the getaway boat.

Information received revealed that while the boat was travelling along the Mazaruni River it overturned and several persons may have drowned. No sign was seen of the boat that was stolen by the armed men.

The police are still in the area pursuing three other suspects. Another man who is suspected of having transported the armed men to the Piara Landing had been earlier arrested at Piara and taken into custody. 

Police said the operation is continuing. They are urging anybody who has seen anything or know of any information that can help to come forward.

They do not want activities like this to keep occuring, especially since there is a State of Emergency in Trinidad and Tobago,

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