Bandit killed by businessman

A BUSINESSMAN shot dead a cutlass-wielding bandit during a foiled robbery attempt at his Penal jewelry store in broad daylight yesterday. The dead man who was unidentified was in his early 30’s. The bandit  was shot three times with a 9 mm pistol after he reportedly threatened the life of businessman Wesley Ramroop. The drama unfolded around 3.30 pm at Ramroop’s Jewelry Store, one of eight businessplaces situated in a three-storey shopping complex, on the second floor of Singer’s Furniture store building, located along SS Erin Road, Penal. When Newsday contacted Ramroop via telephone he declined to speak about the incident except to say: “The man had a cutlass...I was scared for my life.”

A police report stated that Ramroop was attending to two customers when a man armed with a cutlass barged into the businessplace and announced a hold up. The bandit ordered Ramroop, the report stated, to hand over  jewelry and money. A quantity of jewelry and cash was handed over, but police said that the man was apparently not satisfied with the loot. He damanded more from Ramroop, threatening the businessman with the cutlass. Police said Ramroop drew his licenced gun from his pocket and fired three shots. The bandit was shot twice in his abdomen and on his leg. He fell to the ground inside the store where he died. When the gunshots rang out, customers from the other businessplaces scampered out of the building. Visiting the scene was a party of officers from the nearby Penal Police Station led by Insp Wells, Sgt Palloo and Cpl Minors. Investigations are continuing.