'Bandit' Pandits Flee!

This self proclaimed “astrologer” from India was exposed last week after demanding US$225 from an undercover reporter. He is one of several persons engaged in similar operations across Guyana.

Several Indian nationals, posing as ‘pandits’ with mystical powers capable of solving domestic problems and healing sicknesses, have disappeared into thin air and it is believed that they have fled to neighboring Suriname.

It is now estimated that the men, now said to be numbering more than 10, came into the country via three-month visas almost two months ago, and raked in over $10M from unsuspecting Guyanese who came to them for help.
Police have reportedly alerted its ports and border points to be on the lookout for the men who hurriedly left Saturday night and there has been no sign of them since.
On Friday, reporters from a local media house went undercover to the David Street, Kitty operations of one of the alleged scam artists. This was following several complaints last week by Guyanese who claimed that they paid thousands of dollars for the ‘pandits’ to heal sickness, fix domestic problems and host of other issues.
A male reporter and a female co-worker, posing as his wife, were told that someone had worked black magic on them and this was the reason the “wife” was not getting pregnant.
He demanded US$225 to fix the problem.
It is believed that at least five of the Indians arrived here about seven weeks ago and immediately split up, with one heading to Ruimzeight, West Coast Demerara, another to Vreed-en-Hoop, another to Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara, one to Georgetown and another to Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara. It is also believed that there are quite a few more, with some of them stationed in Berbice and on the Essequibo Coast.
The same media house had earlier refused to carry any advertisements from the men after suspicions arose that it was all a scam.
The elaborate scheme began to unravel last week when reports by several complainants suggested that they were made to pay thousands of dollars to the ‘pandits’ but did not receive what they were promised.
In one case, a woman said she paid $96,000 to remove a sore from her foot. Three weeks later it was still there.
A Mahaica contractor said that he paid US$225 to heal his sick daughter.
“Three weeks pass and she still feel sick. I went back to him (the astrologer) and he seh that we gun have to do a bigger puja. I know then that something fishy.”
Yet another alleged victim earlier this week claimed that he visited the Bagotstown ‘pandit’ after his wife left him and went overseas.
“I tell he I want her back. He tell me to pay $35,000 and he will do a puja and she will come back in three days. I tell he to do the puja, get her back and I will pay him $100,000.”
From all indications, the Indian nationals decided to flee on Saturday after reporters went back to the David Street operations and took a number of pictures, including a few of the ‘pandit’ there.