Armed men terrorise sea bathers at La Ruffin

Three pensioners, a housewife and a mechanic were among seven people terrorised by armed bandits as they spent the day on La Ruffin Beach, Moruga, on Sunday.

Police said the attackers held up their victims at gunpoint and kicked and cuffed several of them as they were robbed of personal possessions.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing the suspects at the beach earlier and believed they were searching for potential victims then.

Police said around 1.30 pm, Basdeo Silochan, 65, of Rochard Douglas Road, Barrackpore; Jamadaram Ramkissoon, 66, of Fonrose Village, Poole, Rio Claro; Deokumar Gunness, 68, and Drupatee Gunness, 60, both of St Antoine Road, Princes Town; 38-year-old mechanic Ramcharan Khemraj, of Cunjal Road, Barrackpore; Mollisia Rambaran, 33, of St Mary’s Village, Moruga; and 38-year-old housewife Kiloutie Seelochan, of St Mary’s Village, Moruga, were liming on the beach when they were approached by the bandits.

The bandits first moved in on Silochan and cuffed him in the head before robbing him of $400 in cash. They then robbed Ramkissoon and Khemraj of $400 each and Deokumar Gunness of $250 and took two cellphones valued at $600 from Drupatee Gunness. 

They then relieved Seelochan of a gold chain, valued at $400, and a $250 wristwatch and took a cellphone valued at $100 and $100 cash from Rambaran.

The men then ran into nearby bushes and escaped. Up to yesterday, police were still searching for the bandits.