Dead, Chaitram Hardeo

– relatives suspect foul play 

Although a post mortem was performed on the decomposed Chaitram Hardeo, 26, of Unity Village, East Bank Essequibo proved he drowned, his relatives believe foul play was involved.

The body of the barber was fished out of a fishing pond at Hubu Back, East Bank Essequibo almost three days after he went missing. He was last seen on Wednesday, September 23.

According to information, the man and the son of the owner of a popular stall in the Hubu Area were involved in an altercation when he was severely beaten and soon after disappeared.

The dead man’s relatives believe the young man was murdered, after which his body was transported to the fish pond where it was dumped. His body was found on Saturday afternoon by two lads who went to the area to fish.

Allegedly due to piranhas (a type of fish) in the pond, portions of the man’s body were missing. Initially the Police, relatives stated, were slothful in their investigations but after the intervention of the D Division (West Bank Demerara-East Bank Essequibo) Commander Stephen Mansell investigations have intensified.

Hardeo, farther of the dead man told Guyana Times his son left home on Wednesday evening — and admitted his son was a heavy drinker — but said that after he did not return home, on Thursday they searched the area for the young man but he was not found. He added that as they searched, they found out that he and another man had an argument followed by an altercation.

He stated that from reports, his son was beaten about the body. However, days passed by and there were no signs of the missing man, not until the two lads went to the area to fish and came in contact with the foul stench.

As they looked closer, they saw a body floating in the water and immediately raised an alarm, the distraught father stated.

Upon hearing the news of the discovery, the family rushed to the scene and were confronted by their son’s motionless body. “He two hands and foot eat out… he head had dried blood and portion of his face was damage”, he added.

The aggrieved father stated that Ranks at the Parika Police Station refused to investigate the matter, claiming that it was a clear indication of ‘a drunken man drowned’.

Nevertheless, the post mortem on Wednesday proved that Hardeo drowned but the relatives were not satisfied since they claimed the pathologist ‘just look at the body and say that he drowned’.

The man stated that they subsequently met with the D Division Commander and raised their concerns. The Commander intervened and the post mortem was redone on Friday but the results were the same.

Despite this, the man is still not satisfied since, he claimed, there is a witness who reportedly told them he saw the now dead man being beaten, then thrown into a boat and it left for the fishing pond. He is calling for justice and is hopeful further Police investigations can prove his son was murdered.

The dead man leaves to mourn his parents and siblings and is expected to be cremated today.