kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt
While police have not arrested anyone for the murder of 15-year-old Videsh Dookran, residents believe it is linked to youths in the community who are involved in drugs.
One resident, who chose to remain anonymous, told Guardian Media that some of the boys involved in Videsh’s death sold cigarettes and marijuana. He said the area off Church Street, where Videsh lived, was known as the Ponderosa because many illegal activities occur there.
The abandoned house where police found Videsh’s body, was an area where the teenagers often went, jumping over the fence surrounding the property to get inside.
According to reports, Ste Madeleine police got a tip-off that Dookran was among a group of teenagers around 3 pm Saturday in Golconda when an argument broke out. One person pulled out a firearm and shot him in the chest. An adult arrived at the scene later on and helped the boys move the body to an abandoned building at the back of Classic Pluck Shop along Cipero Road, Golconda, where they dumped the Ste Madeleine Secondary School student in an outdoor bathroom.
PC Matloo and PC Balgobin visited the pluck shop on Sunday morning and searched the abandoned building at the back of the premises. They found Videsh’s body lying in a foetal position. DMO Dr Chamiah confirmed that he had a gunshot wound to his chest.
ASP Persad, Insp Rebeiro and Cpl Deo led a team of homicide investigators to the scene and began taking statements. Undertakers took Videsh’s body to the Forensic Science Centre on Monday, where staff took a swab for a COVID-19 test. Investigators expect an autopsy report later this week.
Although investigators identified persons of interest, they have not held anyone for questioning. Videsh’s family said it was unlikely the people mentioned in the police report had anything to do with his murder.
Relatives, neighbours and friends gathered at Dookran’s home yesterday. His mother, Devika Seebaran, declined to speak. She said she was also awaiting word on when the autopsy would be done.
