Extract from CID Report, 21st August, 1964
[BOMBING OF FREEDOM HOUSE- 41 ROBB STREET, GEORGETOWN.]
The Progressive Book Shop is housed at the bottom flat of a three storeyed building known as “Freedom House” at Lot 41 Robb St., Georgetown. The building is owned by the People’s Progressive Party.
On the 17th July, 1964, at about 10.45 a.m. Michael Forde, deceased, Una Mulsac, Patricia Christian, Mary Nunes and Hilda Gouveia were in the book shop. At that time a man of African descent entered the book shop with a parcel. He inquired about books and was shown a book entitled “New Cuba” by Hilda Gouveia who asked him to buy it. He did so by paying her with a dollar note. The book cost 5 cents. Hilda Gouveia handed the money to the deceased, Michael Frode, who was then the cashier. She was given 95 cents to give the purchaser of the book but the man had left the shop leaving a parcel behind which he had taken there.
Hilda Gouveia drew Michael Forde’s attention to the parcel and she went out of the shop advertising books on the pavement. Michael Forde reported to Una Mulsac what happened and Mulsac told him to take the parcel outside. He took the parcel outside followed by Mary Nunes and Patricia Christian. While he was outside the building on the eastern side, he attempted to open the parcel which exploded killing him instantly and injuring the following persons who were on the premises: —
Una Mulsac
David Michael
Mary Nunes
Felix Baptiste
Particia Christian
Allan Hackett
Respat
Stephen Andrews
Harry Singh
Shirley Chester
Rambrose Singh
Yvonne Bobb
Rajkumar Bharat
Mrs. Janet Jagan and some other persons who were in the centre floor were unhurt. Freedom House was extensively damaged and a building immediately east of it was demolished.
The deceased was removed to Georgetown Hospital mortuary where a post mortem examination was performed by Dr. Balwant Singh and the body was later buried. The doctor found that the cause of death was due to haemorrhage and shock due to explosive device.