By Rabindra Rooplall

A BOTCHED robbery yesterday claimed the life of young Wakenaam businessman Mahendra Persaud, called ‘Amar’, of Good Success, Wakenaam, and left a bandit injured on the busy roadway at Robb and Alexander Streets in the Bourda ward of Georgetown.

Police at the scene of the shooting yesterday afternoon

The 26-year-old dead businessman was on one of his regular trips to the city to buy stocks for the family’s business on the Essequibo Island. This newspaper understands that the family operates a general store which is well known on the island. A resident from Wakenaan revealed that Persaud got married only last month.

Police are now on the hunt for two young men who were on a CG motorcycle and attempted to rob the young man, who had just exited a Canter truck and was making his way to a store. During the attempted robbery, Persaud was shot to the chest, and he slumped on the roadway. A car which was chasing the gunman ran over his body, exacerbating his already grave injuries.

The young man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Police later confirmed that a man who was seen attempting to change the number plate of the vehicle that had run over Persaud has been arrested. The driver of the vehicle has however not yet been arrested, but the vehicle has been detained by the police.

The scene was one of chaos as the sound of the gunshots had many scampering to safety whlst the gunman ran up the street, firing shots wildly to clear his path.
He subsequently jumped on a waiting motorcycle and made good his escape.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that an armed public spirited citizen also discharged multiple rounds at the bandit, hitting him in the fusilade.

Initial investigations indicate that the businessman may have been followed by the bandits to the location. Owen Paton, an employee who was with Persaud at the time, related what transpired when the vehicle they were in stopped at a paint store.

“We just stopped because we was to drop off a bucket paint for them to mix. As soon as he [Persaud] jump out the canter and throw his bag on his back is duh: the man roll up and try to grabble he bag, but they didn’t get it,” Paton told this newspaper.

He explained that Persaud would visit Georgetown often to purchase goods to be shipped to Wakenaam. Paton said he has been working with the businessman for the past five years.

Meanwhile, a police report has noted that at approximately 10:45hrs, Persaud was with his driver in a vehicle at Alexander and Regent Streets, Georgetown when he was attacked by a man armed with a gun, who demanded a bag with money that he had in his possession as he exited the vehicle. He put up a resistance and a struggle ensued, during which he was shot.