Fed up of being robbed, a Penal man’s decision to run from bandits proved deadly when he was shot in the chest outside a San Fernando bar on Tuesday night.
A wounded Capildeo Harrilal managed to walk back to Kanhai’s Bar, along Cipero Road, Retrench Village, for help but despite doctors' efforts at the San Fernando General Hospital he was dead within an hour.
Reports said Harrilal, 58, a salesman with Massy Distribution Ltd, was with others celebrating the retirement of a colleague at the bar.
While sitting on a bench outside, two men dressed in security uniforms, one armed with a gun, approached and ordered them to hand over their cash and jewelry.
One man was robbed of a silver beera and a cellphone, and according to one witness, Harrilal got up and told the bandits: “Nah! Allyuh cyah do me this.”
The witness said he did not know Harrilal or his colleagues but they all were liming. He said Harrilal ran and jumped into a neighbour’s yard and was pursued by the gunmen who then shot him in the chest. The bandits ran off and boarded a waiting car.
The witness explained: “I was sitting here, waiting for my brother. There were three other fellas and myself sitting but I did not really know them.
“While listening to them, I fell into the conversation. Another fella walked across in security uniform with a gun and said ‘Allyuh doh move from here, gimme allyuh wallet and allyuh phone.’ The man who got shot (Harrilal) got up and told the fella, ‘No! No! Allyuh cyah do me that.’
“I ran inside and told the owner of the bar, ‘Boss, there is a robbery going on’ and when we walked out, we heard the shots.
“In my mind, I thought they burst a shot in the air but when we walked out, we saw the guy over the wall. He raised his jersey and said ‘Allyuh I get shoot.’
“With that we opened the gate and he walked him back here and he sat down. He started to go down until we put him to lie down on the ground and the police came,” the witness added. He said the men were planning a lime for Saturday.
Highway Patrol officers responded quickly and took Harrilal to the hospital and were able to get some information from him.
San Fernando CID and Ste Madeleine police, led by ASP Rawle Ramdeo, Insp Don Gajadhar and PC Morris, processed the scene and carried out searches for the suspects. However, no one was held up to yesterday.
Bar owner Sastri Kanhai said he was inside watching a soap opera as the bar had closed since 7.30 pm.
But as the patrons were still there, he said he left a side door open so that they could use the washroom. He said it was only when one of the men ran inside to inform him of the robbery that he knew something happened.
Government is failing on crime
Since age 20 Harrilal got into sales, starting off as cigarette salesman and according to his brother, Don Harrilal, he was robbed at least five times. Fearing for his safety, he said Harrilal transferred to another section.
But with criminals reigning freely in T&T, Don said, and despite his brother’s best efforts to protect himself and his family, it counted for nothing.
Don, who lives in Canada with his wife and children, was speaking at a relative’s home in Debe. He said he only came in on Friday to spend time with relatives. Instead he will be burying his brother. He criticised the Government, saying nothing was being done about crime in T&T and the detection rate was unacceptable. He said although he would retire soon, he would not be returning to T&T as he did not feel it was safe for his family.
“They are savages. Murders are no surprise to me but I am just shocked it happened to one of us. I drink in my garage here because I don’t feel safe going out.
“Now crime has actually hit home and it is a fact that the Government of the day is not doing anything about it. The detection rate is under ten per cent and it is truly sad that crime in this country has reached this level,” Don added. He said he would rather advise people to visit Barbados or Grenada than risk coming to T&T.