Timber City boss shot dead in Block 6 robbery

The family of businessman Jinesh Naik (25), who was gunned down last week by unknown assailants in Block 6, Gaborone is still reeling in shock from the incident.

When The Midweek Sun team visited the family home on Tuesday afternoon, his father Hitesh Naik was evidently still distraught. He said that his son died on his lap while he begged the robbers to allow them to rush him to the nearest hospital. Jinesh, who owned Timber City, situated opposite the Airport Junction mall along the A1 Road, was certified dead upon arrival at Bokamoso Hospital.  “We were in the house when Jinesh arrived and rang the doorbell at the gate.

My brother’s wife opened the gate for him. He was coming from his house, also in Block 6, and was to join the rest of us for dinner as we were hosting a cousin of mine from Zambia. As he entered the compound an unidentified motor vehicle parked outside. A few meters from the gate, three men came from behind him and one shot him from the back at close range. My only son died in my hands…” the teary man said.

Hitesh recounted that after the shooting, the robbers dragged Jinesh into the house and told the rest of the family to hand over money and prized possessions if they did not want more damage. He said the robbers took P1000 from him and U$2000 from the cousin visiting from Zambia. They also made away with their cellphones, watches and diamond jewellery. Hitesh said the robbers assaulted them. “They kept on asking, where the money was as they moved around the rooms in the house,” he said. Hitesh said from their accents, he had deduced that two of the assailants were Batswana while one was a foreigner, adding that the one carrying a gun was draped in a hood. 

The matter was reported to Broadhurst Police Station. The uncle to the deceased, Nilesh Naik, wondered why the three gentlemen could not just rob the family and not kill their son. He said Jinesh was harmless and what they had done to him was brutal. He added that Block 6 has now turned into a crime suburb considering the high rate of robberies in the area this year alone.

Police Public Relations Officer Witness Bosija has appealed to the public to assist the police in the arrest of the suspects, adding that investigations are underway.