Durban father killed during hijacking

Former navy employee, Jugdeesh Dayaram Ranchhod, had been on his way home at about 10pm on Friday night when he was accosted by four armed men a few hundred metres away from his house, Rising Sun Chatsworth reported.

The hijackers allegedly shot him twice, including a bullet to the head. According to Ranchhod’s sisters, Meena and Anitha Ranchhod, this was the fourth time their brother was hijacked.

The sisters said: “Juggie was a very humble person. He was a proud father to his two daughters aged 14 and 18. He was hijacked three times previously. The first time he was hijacked, he was taken to Lamontville and stripped of his clothes and valuables. His car was taken as well. The second time was at the Mobeni Heights Shopping Centre. The third time he was hijacked from outside our house and his vehicle, a light blue Golf, was recovered thereafter…”

Meena remains convinced her brother was being followed, which led him to drive past their home instead of entering their yard. “Whenever we come home, we always check our rear-view mirrors before we enter our yards to ensure that we are not followed home. We have adopted this habit due to the number of times we have fallen victim to crime. I believe that my brother noticed that he was being followed, so he drove around before he was accosted and killed,” she said.

Ranchhod was described as a fun-loving person who loved life. “Our brother loved people. He loved to party, and he was a passionate fisherman and gardener. He enjoyed helping people and was well known in the community,” the sisters said.

Bayview police station commander Colonel Rajesh Balram said a case of murder had been opened and is under investigation.

“We urge members of the community to be vigilant at all times in order to curb the occurrences of hijackings. Also, cooperating with hijackers is imperative to the victim’s safety, as there is no comparison with the value of material possessions and one’s life,” said Balram.

This after a 48-year-old father was allegedly killed by hijackers, while his son survived the attack in Moorton, KwaZulu-Natal, in March.

It is believed prior to the killing, the suspects had hijacked a gold Toyota Corolla vehicle in Montford.

Chatsworth police spokesperson Lieutenant Cheryl Pillay said the driver of a gold Toyota Corolla was allegedly accosted by two males, one of whom was armed, before robbing him of his vehicle.

Read more: Father killed by hijackers, son escapes

– Caxton News Service