Teenage bandits shoot businessman

Three teenage boys shot a 48-year-old businessman in broad daylight yesterday during a brazen attempted robbery at Eccles, East Bank Demerara.

The bandits shot Sumdat Premchand of Airy Hall, Mahaicony, in the right shoulder at around 11:30hrs after blocking his path while he was driving his Canter truck on Flour Mill Road .

However, his attackers panicked and fled empty-handed.

Premchand managed to drive his vehicle for about 100 yards before collapsing in the compound of the Demerara Oxygen Company Limited (DOCOL).

He is being treated at a private hospital.

Premchand is contracted by DOCOL to transport the company's gas cylinders to various distributors.

The businessman was heading for DOCOL with a supply of gas cylinders when the robbers attacked him.

One of Premchand's sons and two porters were with Premchand when the attempted robbery occurred.

One of the porters said that they were approaching a bridge on Flour Mill road when he observed three youths who appeared to be fishing in a nearby canal.

He estimated that the teens were about 16 years old.

The porter said that as the truck came nearer, the youths suddenly converged on the roadway and began to scuffle among themselves, effectively blocking the vehicle's path and forcing Premchand to stop.

At that point, one of the teens drew a handgun and shot at Premchand, hitting him in the right shoulder.

The porter said that he jumped off the vehicle after the shot was discharged, and the three youths immediately took to their heels.

He said that one of the robbers, who had a knife, fell in his haste to escape.

The porter said that he attempted to catch the young robber, but the youth managed to escape with his companions.

Meanwhile, although bleeding profusely from his wound, Premchand managed to drive to DOCOL some 100 yards away. He then walked into the compound where he collapsed.

He was rushed to a private hospital in the city, where he has since been admitted.

Kaieteur News understands that Premchand has been working with DOCOL for about two years.

His assailants are still at large.

Saturday 03-11-2006