[UPDATED] Chutney singer's family tied up, robbed in home invasion

A Chaguanas family, including two minors, narrowly escaped serious injury during a terrifying robbery on the night of October 26.

Armed intruders tied up the family and stole about $80,000, jewellery, cellphones, and other valuables from the home of chutney singer Sunil Ramsundar in Chase Village.

The family remains deeply traumatised by the incident.

The incident occurred around 10 pm, while Ramsundar was performing at a birthday party in Penal.

At about 11.30 pm, he received a text from an unknown number saying, “People took everything and gone.”

Initially thinking it was a mistake, he called the number and learned about the robbery.

From what Ramsundar was told, ten men armed with knives and cutlasses broke into the house, announced a robbery, and tied up the five victims—two of whom are aged eight and eleven—using duct tape and tie straps.

The intruders ransacked the home, even helping themselves to a pack of juice from the fridge. One of the men smoked a cigarette and left the butt on the ground.

The intruders repeatedly demanded money, including foreign currency, a specific gold chain, and other valuables, threatening to kill the family if they did not comply.

They also stole the house keys and warned that they might return.

Ramsundar was saving money for repairs on his house, with work scheduled to begin on October 28.

Now, he has to cancel the project due to the robbery. He suspects the bandits accessed his home through a bushy track leading to a back street.

The intruders attempted to steal a television and an LPG gas tank, placing them in a relative’s van parked in the yard, but left when they could not start the vehicle.

“For someone to pass through that track, they must know the area. Work was supposed to start on the ceiling tomorrow, but they took all the money,” Ramsundar said.

After managing to untie themselves, the victims alerted the Central Division police.

Ramsundar recalled that about four years ago, he received a threatening phone call from someone demanding $40,000 for the family’s safety.

He could not confirm if the two incidents were connected.

The police do not have a motive, and no arrests have been made.

Investigations are ongoing.

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

THE family of chutney singer Sunil Ramsundar was tied up and robbed at home on the night of October 26 in Chaguanas.

Newsday learned that the bandits stole about $80,000, a quantity of jewellery and other valuables. In a Facebook post on October 27, Ramsundar said he was performing at a function in Penal and was not home at the time of the robbery, which took place around 10 pm.

Initial reports indicate that about ten men armed with knives and cutlasses stormed into the house and announced a robbery.

They tied up the victims, including two minors aged eight and 11, and ransacked the home. The victims managed to untie themselves and alerted the Central Division police.

No one has been arrested and investigations are ongoing.