Drug addict sought in woman’s murder

A drug addict is being sought by officers of the Barataria Police Station in connection with the murder of 68-year-old Sumintra Singh. Singh, 68, of El Socorro Road, San Juan, is believed to have been sexually assaulted and stabbed several times around 3.30 pm on Friday. Her body was discovered by her niece, Myna Mohammed, who went to the house on a routine visit. The body was found lying face down on the kitchen floor with blood all over the kitchen. Yesterday, a deya was lit in the same kitchen where the discovery of the body was made. Relatives of the woman told Newsday that they had been complaining to the Barataria police for several months about an abandoned house being used by drug addicts to carry out illicit acts but nothing was done. They claimed that five months ago, Singh, who lived alone in the house adjacent to the abandoned house, was attacked by a drug addict.

They feel that the addict may have returned to her home on Friday and carried out the murder. Relatives said that on Friday night, the killer returned to the scene armed with a cutlass and was chased away by mourners. Officers of the Barataria Police Station were contacted but up until yesterday the suspect was still walking the streets of El Socorro a free man. Grieving relatives said that the police seem to be incompetent in dealing with the situation and they feel the killer may be able to claim another victim. They said that they have lost all confidence in the police and feel that they will be forced to take matters into their own hands. The relatives said that Singh lived like a prisoner in her own home because the addicts were always in her yard stealing fruits or trying to break into her home. Funeral arrangements are yet to be finalised and relatives who are abroad are expected in the country shortly. Singh’s murder is the 205th for the year.