Khedoo's sister, Ram-dularie Khedoo, recalled that around
1.30 yesterday morning, Khedoo was in his bed sleeping,
while his wife, Kissondai and daughter, Julie were outside
watching television and the couple's two sons, 18-year-old
Thakur and 10-year-old Doodnauth were out at a fair.
Stabroek
News was told that Kissondai got up to go to
the bathroom and as soon as she approached the door she saw
a movement inside the room. The woman later saw a hand
moving a towel which was hanging on the bathroom door.
Realising that it was an unwelcome visitor, Kissondai
slammed the door and went back into the living room
informing her daughter about what she had seen. The
20-year-old went to peep and then further secured the
bathroom door. The bandits had gained entry into Khedoo's
yard by scaling his side fence and climbing up on the rear
verandah where they opened two windows to enter the
bathroom. There was bullet hole on one of the windows.
Khedoo was woken from his sleep and told about the
intruder by his wife and daughter. Arming himself with his
licensed firearm he emerged from his bedroom still
dazed from sleep.
As he advanced to the bathroom area, his wife went
downstairs to summon help, but when she got there she
realised that she did not have the keys to open the door.
All this time Julie was still sitting in the living room.
Stabroek News was told that as soon as Khedoo got to the
bathroom where the bandits were one of them pounced on him
and chopped him on his head.
![](cutlass-cc.jpg)
Cutlass
Despite the injury, Khedoo managed to wrestle with the cutlass-wielding
bandit who succeeded in disarming him and who then
shot him in his chest. Ramdularie said during the scuffle,
the watchman said he became aware that something was
happening upstairs and he ran outside the yard summoning
help. Kissondai who at this time was still downstairs said
when she heard the gunshot she thought it was her husband
who had shot the bandit.
Ramdularie related that once Khedoo was shot, the bandit
who struck him called in his accomplice and the two turned
their attention to Julie, who was left transfixed on the
chair after seeing her father being shot. The bandits bound
the young woman, while demanding that she hand over the
family's money and jewellery.
"Wheh de cash and gold deh, open up this door, open
up this door," one of the bandits commanded pointing to
Thakur's bedroom which was closed. According to Ramdularie,
Julie insisted that she did not have the keys for the room
and also told them that they did not have money. The bandits
began to beat the young woman slamming her into the wall
before she finally volunteered to hand over $300,000 which
she collected from her father's room.
The robbers also grabbed four cellular phones and
Khedoo's car keys. They ordered Julie to open the back door
and then fled somewhere behind the scheme. Ramdularie said
when the bandits left Julie began calling out to her father,
but received no answer. Khedoo was rushed to the Georgetown
Hospital by his son and another relative, but was pronounced
dead on arrival.
About fifteen minutes after the bandits had fled the
watchman resurfaced with a few men but they could not catch
them.
Police were also summoned to the scene, but by the time
they arrived the bandits had completely disappeared.
Khedoo who moved into the scheme two years ago operated a
general store. His relatives said his business had attracted
petty thieves in the past and only recently one was
sentenced to three months in prison for stealing a bag of
cement from him. Khedoo, a father of three, was described as
a kind-hearted person who was deeply involved in community
activities. He is survived by five other siblings.
Meanwhile, Eric Benjamin, deputy chairman of the
Diamond/Grove Housing Scheme Policing Group said the death
of Khedoo was a heavy blow to the group and the community.
Benjamin said he was informed about the murder around 3 am
yesterday, and a few members were mobilised and proceeded to
search, but did not see anyone.
Benjamin admitted that his group did not patrol every
night because of a lack of vehicles. He said petty robberies
were very rampant in the scheme and despite stepped-up
police patrols things had not changed. His group, he said,
had received several death threats and now with Khedoo's
murder, members would become fearful.