Pundit murdered over money

The bandits who stormed into the Arouca home of Pundit Sunil Ragbirsingh on Saturday night had prior knowledge that his wife of three years was in possession of a large quantity of cash in a safe at their home.

The money, Newsday was told, was collected from a business owned by her former husband from whom she was separated three years ago. Although they were separated, the two continued to have a cordial business relationship. At about 11 pm on Saturday, Ragbirsingh returned to his First Street, Five Rivers, Arouca home after conducting a prayer service at an Endeavour, Chaguanas temple. However he was confronted by three men, with bandanas over their faces, who were leaving the house after removing a safe containing a large sum of cash and jewellery. Ragbirsingh, 45, was shot by one of the bandits as they fled.

Family members, who were tied up by the bandits, were able to free themselves and found Ragbirsingh’s body in the garage. They said yesterday they were too distraught to speak about the incident.