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A pundit made a public plea yesterday urging villagers to help the police find the killers of farmer Dipchand Heeralal and Radha Baldeo.
Pundit Roopnarine Maharaj told mourners at Heeralal’s funeral that the double murder brought back memories of Dole Chadee’s quadruple killing 24 years ago in the quiet village of Williamsville.
Maharaj said justice had been served to Chadee and his clan after they killed Deo Baboolal, his wife, Rookmin, and their children, Hamilton and Monica but he questioned whether the killers of Heeralal and Baldeo would ever be found.
“When the Baboolal family were killed we saw justice being brought on to Chadee and his men after that family was executed. The laws were applied. Will we get justice for these two people? We don’t know who is next. We are not aware if the murderer is here with us or not. That is why we are afraid,” Maharaj said.
He told villagers, “You need to speak out. Are you going to hide and hush? A double murder has happened and no one has information? Are you scared? Yes or no? What are you going to do? Will you wait until your loved ones are gone to talk out?”
He said more innocent people would continue to die if citizens did not stand up and demand justice.
Maharaj said many people were afraid to leave their homes, describing the spate of crime in T&T as horrendous.
Heeralal’s brother-in-law, Romillus Madoo, said the entire family was scared.
“We don’t know if the killers will come for us. Dipchand was a good man. A good father figure and uncle to many people. He did not deserve this. He never interfered with anybody. He was hard-working and we are all hurt and sad,” he said.
During the funeral, Heeralal’s common-law wife Darcy Hosein held back tears as she looked at his body.
Having lived with him for 30 years at their Williamsville home, Hosein’s lips trembled and her hands shook as she viewed the body.
Her name was omitted from the funeral programme.
Hosein had told Guardian Media that she never knew Heeralal was involved in a relationship with Baldeo. She said he had moved out of their home five years ago after getting a two-acre plot of Caroni land and it was only after he died that she found out Baldeo had been living with him. She said Baldeo came to her every morning to collect a charged battery, market goods, and food but nobody, not even her own children, had told her Baldeo was living with him.
Heeralal and Baldeo were shot dead at his American Flat ranch in Williamsville last week Sunday. No one has been charged with the double deaths.
Baldeo’s son Rayshaun Baldeo said the family wanted justice. Baldeo’s funeral will take place today at Scale Road, Williamsville from 10 am.