A
YOUNG businessman narrowly evaded an attack and robbery attempt by three
men at the Enterprise Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara early
yesterday morning but lost his car in the process.
Imran
Khan, 34, said the attackers set his car on fire as he fled for his life
after managing to slip out of the vehicle as the three closed in on him.
He
said he usually buys fresh and salted fish wholesale at the wharf at
Meadowbrook, East Bank Demerara to supply the village of Enterprise where
he lives.
According
to the father of three, in order to get stock he would usually leave home
at 03:30 hrs (3:30 a.m.) each day with his car which was purchased last
March.
He
said the gates at the wharf open at 05:00 hrs each day and hundreds
converge on the site to compete for bargains.
Khan
said he was on his way to Meadowbrook as usual yesterday when at about
04:05 hrs he observed two men on the railway embankment. He said he
stopped his car a few feet away from them as he contemplated what to do
and to observe their actions.
Maintaining
a cool composure while recounting his ordeal, he pointed out that the
reason he did not attempt to drive away was because one of the men was
armed with a gun while the other held an object in his hand that looked
like a jar, and he feared attempting to drive forward might have resulted
in him being shot and killed.
Within
those few seconds while contemplating his next move, he said he saw out of
the corner of his eye a third man rushing to the car from out of the ditch
that runs parallel to the road.
This
man had a plank with which he lashed out at Khan, the businessman said. He
said the blow missed him but the plank hit the right side of the car,
shattering the driver's window.
As a
result of the impact, he said his foot slipped off the clutch, the car
lurched forward and the engine died.
After
the first blow the man jabbed the plank through the broken window in an
attempt to disable him in the car, the driver related.
Khan
said this attempt failed and he recognised his only option was to run
since the other two men he had first observed were rapidly covering ground
as they hastened to help their accomplice.
He
said there was no time to restart the car and he was not willing to take
such a risk. "If I stay here I dead so it's best I try a ting",
he had concluded to himself.
BURNT:
the shell of Khan's car, PZ 1063, after the fire.
"I
ain't see which direction they go; me nah look back, me ain't even know if
any a them chase me after that, cause me just put speed", he said.
He
said that when he looked back he saw his car, which was vital for his
business, in flames.
The
car had been completely burnt when the Chronicle visited the scene
yesterday.
Khan
said the security at Dipcon called for help and an Army patrol arrived on
the scene seven minutes after but the three men had already vanished.
The
Army patrol subsequently went with Police from the Vigilance Police
Station to the scene to carry out investigations.
While
thanking God for preserving his life, Khan recalled that while he was
driving out an Army patrol had passed him heading into the village before
he encountered the bandits.
The
young businessman is convinced that the men had seen the patrol and
remained hidden until the soldiers had passed. He also felt the reason the
gun was not used in the robbery attempt was that the bandits feared the
sound of gunshots would have attract the patrol's attention.
"Praise
God I ain't had on me seat belt", he added, noting he might not have
had enough time to slip it out and escape.
He
said his car had seat belts prior to the fire but pointed out that given
the current environment, "you have to expect these things in the
morning."
His
wife said some seven hours after the ordeal she was still shaken and
shocked but grateful her husband is alive. She expressed concern that the
car which was essential for the business is now destroyed and it was their
only source of income.
The
young businessman said he is now helpless and without another car his
business will suffer.
He
noted the need for firearms to be issued to businessmen and said he was
contemplating approaching the Government for assistance.
