HGP NIGHTLY NEWS – The Guyana Pandits Council is pushing back strongly against attempts to associate the killing of six-year-old Orlando Jaikarran with Hinduism, declaring that violence against a child has no place in Sanatana Dharma and should not be portrayed as a religious sacrifice or sacred ritual.
The intervention comes amid growing public speculation surrounding the circumstances of Orlando’s death and the continued detention of a pujari alongside the child’s father, Bharrat Jaikarran.
In a statement signed by Pandit Rudra Sharma, the Council said it “categorically and unequivocally” rejects any suggestion that the killing was connected to legitimate Hindu religious practices.
The Council stressed that Sanatana Dharma is founded on principles including non-violence, compassion and respect for life, with children expected to be protected and cherished.
But it also issued a broader warning about persons who allegedly use religion, spiritual titles or claims of divine powers to manipulate vulnerable people.
“Religious standing, titles, or sacred garments must never serve as a shield or excuse for criminal conduct,” the Council declared.
It urged Guyanese to distance themselves from what it described as fraudulent practitioners who exploit fear and superstition under the guise of religion.
The statement comes as police continue investigating the circumstances surrounding Orlando’s killing at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice.
Orlando’s father has reportedly made allegations concerning the involvement of a pujari. The religious practitioner has denied involvement, and the precise circumstances and motive remain under police investigation.
Police have confirmed that two men remain in custody.
Investigators have also seized six cutlasses and other items during a search of a Bath Settlement residence, although police have not publicly established whether any of those weapons were used in Orlando’s killing.
The six-year-old’s badly decomposed body was recovered from the Waterloo Main Canal following a search after he was reported missing.
Police previously disclosed that parts of the child’s body were missing and said preliminary investigations suggested he suffered a chop wound to the neck.
Against the backdrop of those disturbing developments and growing speculation surrounding the possible motive, the Pandits Council is urging the public not to equate the allegations surrounding individuals with the teachings of an entire religion.
At the same time, the Council says religious status must offer no protection from accountability, calling for a comprehensive investigation and for anyone ultimately found responsible for Orlando’s death to face the full force of the law.
