Shastri Boodan & Rhondor Dowlat
Councillor for Cunupia Vandana Mohit says she will not be intimidated in the wake of a gun attack on her home on Monday night.
According to police reports, around 9 pm Mohit was in the company of a 54-year-old female relative when gunmen sprayed her Jerningham Junction, Cunupia home with bullets.
Recalling the incident this morning, Mohit said she heard explosions and glass shattering. She said she and her relative moved to the washroom area of the house to seek cover.
Mohit said the ordeal lasted under a minute. She called the Cunupia police immediately after the attack and they responded in less than five minutes. However, police are yet to make an arrest in the case.
A visibly shaken Mohit told the T&T Guardian she has since been contacted by Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith, who assured that the shooting would be investigated thoroughly.
However, Mohit said the shooting will not deter her from serving the people nothing would it chase her out of politics.
She said, "I would not be intimated by this. I have recently took a stand against suspected corrupted practices. This is all I can say but the police has the information. This is nothing but a brave act of intimidation."
Mohit said she was contacted by Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein and Chaguanas Mayor and other Opposition MPs who expressed their concern over her safety.
In an immediate response, Hosein strongly condemned the act.
"I strongly condemn this heinous act to intimidate this local government practitioner, who has been an exemplary servant of the burgesses of Cunupia," Hosein said.
Senator Avinash Singh also condemned the act.
"Councillor Vandana Mohit has always placed her burgesses first in her actions and I join the population in thanking God that she is physically unharmed, but pray that the trauma, mental and emotional recovery is well on the way."
Chaguanas East MP Fazal Karim said he has also been in contact with Mohit, who he said remains "very traumatised" and called for a thorough police investigation into the incident.
"I wish that the perpetrators be brought to swift justice. I hope the police uses all their resources to ensure safety and security for all citizens," Karim said.
Minister of National Security Stuart Young also gave the assurance that "a swift and thorough investigation has already begun."