Cops launch manhunt for relative

A WARRANT has been issued for the arrest of a 42-year-old man who allegedly beat nine-year-old Vinode Singh with a mop handle four weeks ago at his home in Borde Narve Village. The warrant was taken out yesterday by police officers of the Ste Madeleine Police Station. Singh, a pupil of the Jordon Hill Presbyterian Primary School, spent two weeks at the San Fernando General Hospital where he underwent surgery for a ruptured spleen. Police said yesterday that if the man, a relative of the boy, is arrested, he would be charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He is to be taken before a Princes Town magistrate to answer the charge.

According to the police report,, Singh was alone home with the relative around 3.45 pm on Wednesday March 3. Police said the child allowed his stepbrother, Nadeen, 11, to use the telephone. On seeing this, the relative became annoyed and grabbed a mop handle. The report alleged that he struck the child with the handle. Singh complained of stomach pains when his mother, Savitri, returned home. He slumped to the ground and was then taken to hospital. Cpl Harrygin is heading a team of police officers in search of the relative.