Pujari Ishwar Srikshnu has denied any involvement in the death of six-year-old Orlando Jaikarran, insisting that he had no connection to the crime.
Srikshnu, 47, of Lot 864, Block ‘D-1’, Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, was arrested for questioning after Orlando’s father, Bharrat Jaikarran, reportedly implicated him in the child’s death.
He was released on $500,000 station bail on Monday and is required to report to the Fort Wellington Police Station every Friday.
In his role as a Pujari, Srikshnu performs Hindu rituals.
Bharrat has been charged with the murder of the child. The killing has sparked public outrage.
Srikshnu told reporters yesterday that he had learnt of an action taken by Bharrat on October 18. He said that after learning of the incident, he telephoned Bharrat and warned him against visiting his premises. According to Srikshnu, Bharrat apologised, and that was the last time they spoke.
Srikshnu alleged that Bharrat subsequently told police that the telephone conversation was about making arrangements to take Orlando to a waterside location around midnight or 1:00 hours for a sacrifice.
“He [Bharrat] used that call and tell the Police them that I call he and make arrangements fuh let he take he son and carry him at the water side 12:00/1:00 morning seh how abbay go make sacrifice with he,” he said.
The pujari said that when police visited his home, they informed him of the alleged arrangements before arresting him for questioning.
Further, he alleged that Bharrat told investigators that he had gone into a trance and had made false statements concerning Orlando.
“He tell the Police them that me manifest and the body wah come on me tell he that, that pickney wah he get deh nah he one,” he stated.
Bharrat and Srikshnu previously worked together as cane harvesters at Blairmont Sugar Estate.
Srikshnu also disputed allegations that he was seen near Orlando with incense sticks and a cutlass on the night of the child’s death. He said that Bharrat told police he had crossed the Sea Dam around 12:30 hours to 1:00 hours and walked towards the Waterloo Nursery School road, where he allegedly sat near the child, lit several incense sticks and spoke in an unfamiliar language.
“He tell the Police them that me cross the sea dam 12:30/1:00 and walk to catch the Waterloo Nursery School street. He seh me sit down around this pickney and he see light a lot of agarbatti and me talk a quick language … And I really get vex over that part because I wasn’t there and I don’t know nothing about that,” he disclosed.
The pujari acknowledged owning cutlasses used in animal sacrifices but said that police selected a cutlass he did not use for that purpose when they searched his home.
“He tell the Police them that me get a killing cutlass and they asked me and I said no. I get a killing cutlass that I does do live sacrifice with animals. Me don’t do no live sacrifice in my temple; any live sacrifice me does go at the ocean top and do it. The police them come and they bring out six cutlasses, out of the five nah use. The cutlasses wah me a use to do sacrifice he nah pin point that one, he pick one that me don’t use and show them Police. When me sit down to do mother work and witness whatever done there, he get another pujari does do the live sacrifice for me. And eventually, that cutlasses nah get one body fingerprint on it,” he said.
Srikshnu said that he last used his cutlasses for a sacrifice in June this year.
He also said Bharrat’s mother had never visited his temple for any religious event. He said that Bharrat and his children had visited the temple several years ago, but that Bharrat later began visiting alone.
Maintaining his innocence, Srikshnu said he wanted to make it clear that he had no connection to Orlando’s death.
“I want the world to know, regarding what he said the killer is still outside, there is nothing to do with me and me nah get no hands and connection with this murder or this crime that took place,” Srikshnu said.
Orlando was reported missing on October 14, and his decomposed body was discovered in the Sea Dam Canal at Water Street, Bath Settlement, in the early hours of October 20.
The investigation into Orlando’s death remains ongoing.
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