Arima man shot during robbery at home

A 34-YEAR-OLD man was shot in the chest on Monday when he rushed to the assistance of his mother who was being attacked by two bandits at their home in Tumpuna Road, Arima.

Vianne Maharaj underwent emergency surgery on Monday night and was resting at the Cocorite Community Hospital yesterday. Grimacing in pain, her told Newsday at around 12.30 pm on Monday he was resting at home when two masked men entered the house and began demanding cash and jewelry from his mother, Savi. When she told them that she did not have any, the bandits began kicking her about the body. Her screams alerted Vianne who jumped out of his bed and came face to face with the gunman. He was shot once in the left side of the chest.

Maharaj was then ordered to crawl to another bedroom where his mother was being beaten by the bandits. Maharaj said each time that he drifted into unconsciousness, his mother was nearby to give him support, urging him to pray and stay awake. He said even when blood flowed from his chest the bandits showed no mercy and continued kicking him. Maharaj said he is grateful to be alive but the incident has caused him to rethink his future. He said the bandits told him that they would kill him if he said anything about the robbery. The bandits ransacked the house and carted away more than $3,000 in cash, a quantity of jewelry, computers, electronic items, a passport belonging to Vianne’s mother and two pairs of reading glasses.

The bandits tied up Vianne and his mother before fleeing the scene. Vianne’s father, Romish, arrived home about two hours after the incident, untied his wife and son and rushed Vianne to the Arima Hospital. Cpl Jones and PC Sohan visited the scene and carried out inquiries. Savi Maharaj told Newsday two years ago, bandits entered her house and robbed her of a quantity of cash, jewelry and household items. She said she has put up her house for sale and will be migrating shortly. She expressed disgust over the crime situation in the country.