Man Who Attended Prayer Vigil Killed by Officials in Trinidad
by Jeremy Reynalds
November 16, 2007
SAN FERNANDO, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO (ANS) -- A man who had just attended a prayer vigil was shot and killed by police in Trinidad.The incident occurred in the early morning hours of Nov. 6.
The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago comprises two islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean in the West Indies, off the coast of northeast Venezuela.
According to Salem Voice News (SVM News), Joel Ramsingh, 21, an employee of the San Fernando City Corporation, had attended a prayer vigil for the nation on Mon. night at a Baptist church.
SVM reported that Ramsingh was killed by police officers at a house in Rousillac owned by Magistrate Rae Roopchand.
SVM News reported that police said Ramsingh and an accomplice got shot during an altercation with police, who had responded to a call that two men were seen removing household items from Roopchand's house.
Police said they received information of "unusual activity" near Roopchand's home. They investigated and gunshots followed, SVM reported.
Ramsingh died, and SVM reported the other man sustained gunshot wounds. He is in stable condition at the San Fernando General Hospital where he is under police guard.
SVM News reported that Ramsingh's relatives said he went to his house after the prayer meting, but later received a phone call, after which he left in a car. Police subsequently reported that the other suspect shot at officers when they he was apprehended at the magistrate's house in Rousillac. Police returned fire.
The entire congregation of the St. Peter's Spiritual Baptist Church was shocked at his death.
One of the prayer meeting leaders told SVM News that Ramsingh was baptized at the church three months ago and had turned his life around. "He never committed any major crime, but he had changed his lifestyle and was going to church regularly. He didn't deserve to die that way," she said.
Ramsingh and family were former Hindus and Indians. He leaves a wife and two children. They said he did not own a gun and was not a thief, but a born-again man of God.
Mother Smith, Ramsingh's spiritual mother, told SVM News, "Since his baptism, he has become very spiritual. He has been participating in the (prayer meeting) every night since it started."
She added, " ... He was here and left around 11.30 pm saying he was going home, as he wanted no part of (the election) victory celebrations of the People's National Movement's victory at the polls in the San Fernando East constituency."
Salem Voice Ministries ministers the gospel and provides relief services in India and third world countries.
For more information, go to www.salemvoice.org/about.html
© 2007 ASSIST News Service, used with permission.
