Weeks before he was shot dead with his own gun in a domestic dispute, prison officer Robert Seecharan tried by mend his marriage by seeking help from his spiritual healer.
This was revealed by Pundit Sunil Seetahal during Seecharan’s funeral at Rochard Douglas Road, Barrackpore, yesterday.
Relatives of Seecharan’s wife, Sherry-Ann, told the Guardian on Thursday that the woman was a victim of domestic abuse during the four years they were together. On the night he was killed, the woman was beaten, dragged and kicked by her husband, they said.
Hundreds of Seecharan’s classmates, former teachers, colleagues, friends, villagers and relatives came out to pay a final farewell to him.
His mother Kaloutie and sisters, Ria and Sabita, caressed his face while his brothers Robbie, Rudy and Russel performed his final rites.
Delivering the sermon, Seetahal said that Seecharan had an interest in building his spiritual life.
“He told me anything the temple had, he wanted to know,” Seetahal recalled.
On the day of the murder, Seetahal said he called Seecharan, 37, about 20 times to invite him to a function. However, Seecharan never answered as there was no cellphone signal at Quinam Beach where he had taken his wife Sherry-Ann and her three children, aged 16, 17 and 13, for a family outing.
Police investigators said yesterday that the woman, and the 16-year-old girl, remained in police custody pending further investigations.
Seetahal told mourners that despite difficulties Seecharan was always smiling and always willing to extend a helping hand to his family, friends, villagers and colleagues. Senior Supt of Prisons Mukesh Poliah said the fallen officer was a motivating force to hundreds of inmates.
“He was a bright, vibrant, young man who made a positive impact on the inmates because of his love for sports,” Poliah said.
He said that Seetahal’s death should serve as a wake-up call to people. Seecharan was stationed at the Maximum Security Prison, at Arouca.
“We have to stop the heartache and violence and turn to God,” Poliah said.
President of the Victoria United Sports Club, Samdath Silochan also said Seecharan was a top batsman and a fantastic cook. Saying Seecharan never got to share his murtani (hot pepper choka) recipe with him, Silochan said his team stood ready to assist Seecharan’s grieving family.
MP for Moruga/Tableland Clifton De Coteau also called on the family to forgive.
“Robert has gone under circumstances that we really don’t like but we have to find forgiveness in our hearts. We may never forget but we have to forgive. Soften your heart, forgive and move on,” De Coteau said.
Seecharan’s former teacher, Beril Jacob, also spoke at the funeral and described him as a brilliant and helpful man. Following the service, Seecharan was cremated at the Shore of Peace, La Romaine.
Seecharan, 38, was shot with his licensed .9mm pistol following a domestic quarrel and fight involving a woman and two teenaged girls. The incident occurred around 6.30 pm near Goodman Trace, Penal.
Police believe a female relative acted in self-defence after Seecharan began abusing them.