Bandit ‘Grandfather Stew’ shot dead by own partner
The criminal career of a 45 year old grandfather came to an abrupt and ignominious end yesterday, when he was shot dead by a member of his gang while fleeing from the home of an Edinburgh, East Bank Berbice family they had robbed and terrorised.
Odan Lallbeharry, called “Sunil” or “Stew”, of New Forest and Adelphi Village East Canje, Berbice, was accidentally shot in the lower flat of the premises by one of his four cohorts during their escape. He managed to run to the bridge where he collapsed, and succumbed at a hospital.
The other four robbers escaped.
The botched robbery occurred at around 01.30 hrs at the home of Danakumar Datt, called “Bald
Head,” a 45-year-old canecutter, farmer and shopkeeper of Lot 3 Edinburgh East Bank Berbice. At the time, Datt was at home with his wife, Parbattie Jainabi, 48, and his daughters Kelly Datt, 21 and Alicia Ramnarine 19.
Datt told Kaieteur News that the family had secured their shop and he was watching a movie when he heard loud noises on his shed.
Suspecting that bandits were about to attack, Datt called out to his family to flee downstairs. However, the bandits smashed open 19-year-old Alicia’s bedroom windows and held on to her.
The teen said she then saw five masked men who were all dressed in black. One was armed with a “long gun” and another had a cutlass.
The house and grocery that came under attack
Slain bandit Odan Lallbeharry, called “Sunil” or “Stew’
After entering the room, the bandits began to beat the daughter before taking her into the hall. They also held onto Kelly, the 21-year-old daughter and took her downstairs. The two girls were badly beaten, while the mother hid. Mr. Datt, meanwhile, had slipped out of the house.
But the bandits began asking for “Bald Head,” and began to beat the two daughters while ordering them to tell their father to come back.
On seeing her daughters being assaulted, Datt’s wife emerged from her hiding place and begged the bandits not to hurt her daughters. She then gave them a sum of cash, but one of the robbers threatened to cut off her hand if she did not hand over a bangle she was wearing.
Meanwhile, Datt, who had fled his house, alerted neighbours, but no one responded since the bandits had started to shoot indiscriminately.
But police, who were also alerted, responded with three units. The Community Policing Group in the area also rushed to the scene.
Just before the ranks arrived, the gang fled the scene, and it was then that one of the robbers accidentally shot Odan Lallbeharry.
The others fled into some bushes. One man was found hiding out in some bushes and was taken into custody.
At the dead bandit’s home, his mother Elsie, 64 was inconsolable. Lalbeharry, a father of three girls and, grandfather of two, was well known to the police.
His eldest daughter stated that she was at her home when the police visited about 04:25 hrs yesterday and showed her a photograph of her father. She was told that he was shot at a robbery scene by one of his cohorts.
He was reportedly seen leaving the area where he lives dressed in black attire.
Police in a release stated that the businessman/ proprietor was at home with his family when he was aroused by strange sounds coming from a shed adjoining the house.
He proceeded to make checks and was confronted by five masked men, one armed with a long gun.
He was stuck up along with his family, taken to the lower flat where the bandits demanded cash and valuables.
During the process, the businessman fled and raised an alarm; the businessman’s wife by this time had handed over $100,000, a quantity of phone cards and other valuables to the bandits, and thereafter several loud explosions were heard.
The deceased bandit was found on the businessman’s bridge, clad in dark clothing and a pair of construction gloves.
Police arrived on the scene at 02:00h.; and prior to dying the wounded suspect gave some information to the police “which is being diligently followed up”, the release said.
The deceased bandit was later identified as Odan Lallbeharry, AKA Stew, 45 yrs. Of New Forest, East Canje, Berbice.
