Manhunt on for three bandits

A National Security helicopter and armed police officers with sniffer dogs locked down the Tarouba Link Road, near San Fernando for over three hours on Saturday night as they launched a manhunt for three bandits who while hijacking a car caused the death of a 19-year-old Princes Town woman.

They also chopped a 19-year-old Princes Town man, and crashed head-on into a van.

However, the extensive aerial and foot search carried out by the National Helicopter Services, Canine Unit, together with Crime Suppression Unit, San Fernando and Ste Madeleine CIDs, and Guard and Emergency Branch, for the three bandits who escaped on foot turned up empty.

Residents who rushed to the scene found the body of Reshma Boodoo of Lothians Road, and a bleeding Adesh Singh, of Mathilda Road in the bushes.

The occupants of the van — Anil Rambharose, of Rousillac, and Ramraj Hitoole, of Iere Village received several scratches and bruises.

A police report stated that at about 6.20 pm a silver B-14 Sentra was proceeding east at Tarouba Road at a “fast rate” when it swerved and collided with a Toyota Hi-lux in which Rambharose and Hitoole were the occupants. Singh was rushed to hospital bleeding from chop wounds and other injuries he suffered in the accident. Boodoo was pronounced dead at the scene by District Medical Officer Dr Clem Ragoobar. Boodoo, who would have celebrated her 20th birthday on Wednesday, is believed to have succumbed to internal injuries.

Boodoo, a part-time salesperson, and Singh, the son of a businessman, spent Saturday afternoon liming and bar-hopping, Newsday learned.

Boodoo’s father, Seukeran, said the deceased left home at about 1.30 pm with $200 to buy groceries but never made it to the grocery as police recovered the money in her pocket.

Her father said he cautioned his daughter about liming and drinking.

However, on Saturday afternoon Boodoo and Singh met while liming at a bar at Princes Town before making their way to another bar at Marabella.

Boodoo’s friend, Stasha Murray, 19, who works in one of the bar as a bartender, said the two arrived at about 6 pm. Murray recalled “He (Singh) wanted vodka and I told him ‘no.’ I gave them two beers each and they drank it and left.”

Police believed that the two were hijacked after leaving Marabella but were uncertain where they were attacked.

A Tarouba resident who did not wish to be identified, said at about 6.20 pm he saw a car swerving along the roadway and became suspicious.

The resident said he was seated in the gallery of his home when he saw a struggle with persons in the backseat of the car. He said, “I saw some persons in the car trying to push the woman and man out of the car.

“Then the car crashed into the van and some men ran into the bushes.”

When residents rushed to the scene, they found the bodies after hearing Singh’s cries. Singh suffered a broken foot and was chopped on his leg, police said. An autopsy is expected to be carried out on Boodoo’s body at the Forensic Science Centre today.

Yesterday afternoon, police described Singh as in “unsatisfactory condition”.