Woman stabbed to death inside Quik Shoppe

The incident occurred at 5 pm inside the NP Quik Shoppe near the Debe Junction, where Rooplal worked.

Police described Rooplal’s brutal murder as the tragic end to what was many months of physical abuse.

A police report stated that Rooplal, of Debe Trace, had left the matrimonial home for the past two weeks. Two weeks ago, she filed a report in the Penal Police Station against a relative who threatened to kill her. Yesterday, according to the police report, Rooplal went to the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court to take out an order for domestic violence against a relative. Rooplal was the mother of two children, Asha, 19, and Shoba, 21. Police said Rooplal apparently changed her mind when a relative advised her to get a relative, who is a police officer, to intervene in the domestic dispute.

Rooplal reported for work at 3 pm at the Quik Shoppe, where she was employed as a sales clerk. However, her colleagues said the woman had been a nervous wreck while on the job yesterday, having been confronted by the man inside her workplace on several occasions.

Debe residents gathered in front of the Quik Shoppe and wept openly, describing Rooplal as a customer-friendly sales clerk. They spoke of the man who used to stalk her.

Yesterday, he went armed with a knife.

Police said the man waited for Rooplal to emerge in the lobby area, when he barged into the store and stabbed the woman several times. The attack occurred in the presence of other employees.

The cashier, Betty Roopnarine, immediately telephoned the police who arrived on the scene within minutes.

Police arrested the man walking along the Debe Road a short distance away.