Central businessman shot dead

STACY MOORE

Businessman Ashram Ramnath, 32, of Chandernagore Old Road in Chase Village was shot and killed at 3 am yesterday by two men during an attempted robbery at his home. Reports are that Ashram put up a fight with the bandits which resulted in him being shot in the chest.

Couva North MP Ramona Ramdial told Newsday she strongly believes small business owners in the Couva south and north constituencies are being targeted by criminals. She said that the situation is frightening.

She spoke at Ramnath’s home in Chandernagore where she visited to express her sympathies. At the time of the home-invasion, Ramnath was with his brothers Amar, 27, and Akash, 25. He died while trying to protect them.

Through his tears, Akash said he was awakened by a banging noise as bandits demanded to be let into the house. Akash said he and his brothers decided to fight back.

Akash said he telephoned police officers for help. As he did so his brothers pushed against the front door to prevent the bandits from entering.

“Ashram and Amar tried to prevent the men from entering by swinging the cutlass at the door, the more they kept throwing chops at the men, they still continued to try to open the door,” Akash said. It was the fourth time the family had been robbed for this year.

“The men managed to break down the door and they pointed the gun inside and shot my brother close range to the chest,” Akash said. The bandits then ran off.

In separate incidents two other murders were committed. A 56-year-old man and a 24-year-old man were killed. The first incident occurred at 7 am. Reports said that the body of Vishnu Narine was found near the Ste Madeline Usine Pond. Narine, who had dual citizenship for TT and Canada was staying at relatives in Church Street, Charles Village.

Police said Narine’s body bore marks of violence. Relatives said he left home on Thursday night with a large sum of money to drop off at a business place in South Trinidad.

The second murder occurred at about 8.30 am yesterday when 24-year-old Anderson Babwah of New Haven Avenue, Marabella and another man were in a heated argument.

The man pulled out a knife and stabbed Babwah to the chest. He died while undergoing emergency surgery at San Fernando General Hospital.