Two armed bandits grabbed $262,700 from two money-changers and a vendor in the Corriverton Municipal Market around 12.15 pm yesterday and escaped in the direction of the cane field, after firing a shot in the air.

The bandits placed other people in the area to lie on the ground as they pointed a gun at money-changer Premchand 'Tall Boy' Pooran and demanded that he "hand over all the money." Pooran at first refused and told the bandits he did not have any money. But one of the other bandits then told his accomplice to "shoot him."

At this stage, Pooran said, "if is money you want take it" and handed them $160,000 he had in his pants pocket. They then turned their attention to another money-changer, called 'Peter' of Kingston, Corriverton. They also threatened to shoot him while forcing him to hand over $200,000.

The bandits first robbed a 60-year-old vendor, Khan, of $2,700 and searched 'Sham', another vendor but found nothing. While the bandits were busy robbing Pooran and Peter, the vendors and other persons who were ordered to lie on the ground, took the opportunity to flee.

Pooran told Stabroek News that after the bandits got the money he tried to look at them but one of them "pushed me head down and they fire a load and run away." He said everything lasted for about two minutes.

UNSOLVED crime

This newspaper learnt that six persons normally change money at that spot but four had already left when the attack was carried out.

The incident occurred in front of the market's constabulary and a source said right after the incident the constables asked the vendors to vacate the market, which was closed for the rest of the day.

The source said, "everything happened so fast." He said after the incident, the vendors accused the constables of not protecting them. But the source said the constables did not have guns, just batons and it would have been foolish for them to go after the gunmen. According to the source, the police responded promptly and searched the area but the men had already fled the scene.

Stabroek News understands that three young men were near the cane field where the bandits escaped and when they saw the police, they started to run. But the ranks ordered them to remain where they were and took them into custody at the Springlands Police Station. It is not clear if they were released.