Madness !!!

The drama unfolded outside the compound of the rural Maracas St Joseph Police Station, as the two men __ Kurland George alias “Mice Man” identified by police as a drug dealer, and Shameel “Kazim” Ali, his friend __ both from the El Socorro area and in their early 30’s, were on their way to the building to sign a book to fulfil a bail requirement by George for a firearm offence.

Police reports indicate that the attack was launched as the men were about to alight their vehicle some 200 metres from the station to go into the building. Six persons in two other vehicles, who were following George and Ali, pulled up near the station and began firing at them.

The gunmen rammed one of their vehicles onto the victims’ vehicle overturning it as they shot at them. George and Ali were hit multiple times and died instantly.

On hearing the rapid gun fire, officers on duty at the station rushed outside.

Some officers took cover after the killers began firing at the police station. The front of the station was riddled with bullets and PC Lalchan, who was seated in a police vehicle, was hit in the head. His injury was described as minor.

The five policemen who were on duty at the station alerted senior officers, and officers from other divisions responded to the report. By 4 pm yesterday police cordoned off the murder scene and scores of other officers began combing the Maracas, St Joseph area in search of the killers.

The two vehicles used by the gunmen, a black Hilux van and a white station wagon, were found abandoned about 500 metres away from the murder scene.

The vehicles were being dusted for prints yesterday.

A District Medical Officer was summoned to the scene to view the bodies while PC Lalchan was rushed to hospital. He was listed in a satisfactory condition.

Senior Superintendent Mc Donald Jacob, head of the Northern Division, told Newsday that a joint team of police officers from the Criminal Gang and Intelligence Unit, Task Force and air support were assisting in combing the Maracas St Joseph hills in search of the killers.

He said that what occurred was very unfortunate and an indication that criminal elements are becoming more brazen to the point where two murders could take place in the vicinity of a police station and also an attack made on the lives of police officers who were ready to respond.

Traffic was debarred near the police station with villagers in the area being told they would have to wait until the crime scene was properly processed before they could enter or leave.

Both police and soldiers stood guard as the processing was taking place, and very soon relatives and friends of the victims turned up, some of them wailing and throwing themselves onto the ground in grief.

None of them wanted to speak to the media. Newsday understand that officers, traumatised over the incident were expected to receive counselling last night.

Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams yesterday condemned the shooting incident.

The TTPS, in a statement issued last night, stated that Williams has given the assurance the “assailants will be pursued and brought to justice.”