I was ordered out of my shop at gunpoint

7:00am Monday 25th June 2012 in Southend

owner Thilakasekaram Inthrajith and cousin Vetivelu Sanjayan owner Thilakasekaram Inthrajith and cousin Vetivelu Sanjayan

A SHOP OWNER has revealed how he, his wife and baby were ordered out of his store at gunpoint after a hoax call to police by schoolchildren.

Police marksmen surrounded the News and Store shop, on the corner of Fairfax Drive and Ronald Park Avenue, in Westcliff, on Wednesday, after a call claiming the owner was armed.

With guns trained on him, shocked owner, Thilakasekaram Inthrajith, was ordered to put his hands on his head and come out of the shop with his terrified wife Sobikka, their 18-month old son Keeran, and his cousin, Vetivelu Sanjayan.

Mr Inthrajith, 32, told the Echo he didn’t find out what the police were doing at the shop until two hours after the incident started at 4pm.

He said: “They treated us like terrorists. It was really scary when it happened.

“All of a sudden we saw police surrounding the shop with guns and then they started shouting at us to come out.

“We had no idea what was going on, but when we walked out, there were all these police, with guns pointed at us.

“Then, some of them went inside and started searching around, but no one would tell me what was going on, or why they were there.“ Cops closed the road for more than an hour while they mounted a painstaking search of the building, but found nothing. The youngsters, some from nearby Chase High School, escaped with a ticking off from police. Two children have since been suspended from the school.

The drama followed an incident in which 20 schoolchildren entered the store and began shouting, pushing and fighting each other, before Mr Inthrajith marched them out.

A short while later, police received an anonymous call saying Mr Inthrajith had a gun.

Armed police stormed the shop at 4pm and carried out a two-hour search in the shop and the flat above where the family live, before leaving empty-handed.

It is not the first time Mr Inthrajith has had to deal with troublesome youngsters.

He said: “We have had ongoing problems with kids from the school in the past. They damage stock and have shoplifted, but the police don’t do anything.

“I am really fed up with it and don’t know what else to do.”

Police confirmed they did not find a firearm and said they gave the youngsters involved in the incident some “strong words of advice.”

They refused to disclose to the Echo how much it cost to send an armed unit out, but a police spokesman said: “The armed unit is always available day and night to react to an incident, so there would be no additional cost for them to attend this incident.”

Comments (18)

7:24am Mon 25 Jun 12

All 9 of me says...

reading the inane comments on here I am quite convinced the people of the area have the police force and council they deserve
reading the inane comments on here I am quite convinced the people of the area have the police force and council they deserve All 9 of me

9:08am Mon 25 Jun 12

mr_happy says...

Kids once again. NO DETERANT..... Ii will not get any better. Everyone is frightened of kids. Many of them just need a good bit of hard disipline. This will not happen now all the do-gooders have their way in banning the cane and a good clip round the ear. My dad had a 2 inch wide leater belt. that spoke more than words ever would.
Kids once again. NO DETERANT..... Ii will not get any better. Everyone is frightened of kids. Many of them just need a good bit of hard disipline. This will not happen now all the do-gooders have their way in banning the cane and a good clip round the ear. My dad had a 2 inch wide leater belt. that spoke more than words ever would. mr_happy

9:28am Mon 25 Jun 12

bob7 says...

These kids say we should respect them and treat them like adults. Well from what I see they don't know how to behave like adults. Each one of them should be put over their parents knee and spanked until they understand how to behave. If the shop keeper had made one wrong move he could have been shot. Maybe the kids would have felt they had been vindicated for being ejected from the shop. It's seems to be the way their minds work.
I know he would lose revenue but maybe all kids from that particular school should be barred.
These kids say we should respect them and treat them like adults. Well from what I see they don't know how to behave like adults. Each one of them should be put over their parents knee and spanked until they understand how to behave. If the shop keeper had made one wrong move he could have been shot. Maybe the kids would have felt they had been vindicated for being ejected from the shop. It's seems to be the way their minds work. I know he would lose revenue but maybe all kids from that particular school should be barred. bob7

12:25pm Mon 25 Jun 12

mr_happy says...

Make the kids parents pay compensation to the shop owners.

Not being funny here but the Pakistan an Bangladesh community work so hard and work all the hours that we idle british would not. They provide a good service to us all. Also, the police are always over the top in situations like this. You wathch the police programs on TV. They are all to quick to smash a door in, knock someone to the ground or point taser or gun at them. It is about time that the police were trained on how to read a situation.

This whole thing must have been very nasty for those concerned.
Make the kids parents pay compensation to the shop owners. Not being funny here but the Pakistan an Bangladesh community work so hard and work all the hours that we idle british would not. They provide a good service to us all. Also, the police are always over the top in situations like this. You wathch the police programs on TV. They are all to quick to smash a door in, knock someone to the ground or point taser or gun at them. It is about time that the police were trained on how to read a situation. This whole thing must have been very nasty for those concerned. mr_happy

2:04pm Mon 25 Jun 12

Max Impact says...

Make Mummy and Daddy pay the cost of the incident.

Ban the brat from owning a mobile and using the internet, take the playstation away and name and shame.
Make Mummy and Daddy pay the cost of the incident. Ban the brat from owning a mobile and using the internet, take the playstation away and name and shame. Max Impact

2:17pm Mon 25 Jun 12

emcee says...

Quote: "Police confirmed they did not find a firearm and said they gave the youngsters involved in the incident some “strong words of advice.”"
-
Good grief!. Well that's alright then.
Firstly these kids should not only have been suspended but expelled.
Secondly, these kids should have been arrested and charged. There are several things these kids could have been charged with. If nothing else the process of having to stand up in court may have been frightening enough to deter them from doing it again.
Thirdly, the parents should now be made responsible in some way. Why should they get off scott free? The parents and children should at least be made to give a public apology to the shop owner and his family.
Also, it really does annoy me when the police will not do anything when things get stolen or damaged in the shop but will send an "army" of gun wielding police officers at the first unsubstantiated smell of someone being armed.
What's wrong Essex Police, shopplifting not exiting enough for you?
Quote: "Police confirmed they did not find a firearm and said they gave the youngsters involved in the incident some “strong words of advice.”" - Good grief!. Well that's alright then. Firstly these kids should not only have been suspended but expelled. Secondly, these kids should have been arrested and charged. There are several things these kids could have been charged with. If nothing else the process of having to stand up in court may have been frightening enough to deter them from doing it again. Thirdly, the parents should now be made responsible in some way. Why should they get off scott free? The parents and children should at least be made to give a public apology to the shop owner and his family. Also, it really does annoy me when the police will not do anything when things get stolen or damaged in the shop but will send an "army" of gun wielding police officers at the first unsubstantiated smell of someone being armed. What's wrong Essex Police, shopplifting not exiting enough for you? emcee

2:21pm Mon 25 Jun 12

emcee says...

bob7 wrote:
These kids say we should respect them and treat them like adults. Well from what I see they don't know how to behave like adults. Each one of them should be put over their parents knee and spanked until they understand how to behave. If the shop keeper had made one wrong move he could have been shot. Maybe the kids would have felt they had been vindicated for being ejected from the shop. It's seems to be the way their minds work.
I know he would lose revenue but maybe all kids from that particular school should be barred.
Sadly, the lack of corporal punishment these days must, indeed, go someway towards the lack of respect youngsers have within society.
[quote][p][bold]bob7[/bold] wrote: These kids say we should respect them and treat them like adults. Well from what I see they don't know how to behave like adults. Each one of them should be put over their parents knee and spanked until they understand how to behave. If the shop keeper had made one wrong move he could have been shot. Maybe the kids would have felt they had been vindicated for being ejected from the shop. It's seems to be the way their minds work. I know he would lose revenue but maybe all kids from that particular school should be barred.[/p][/quote]Sadly, the lack of corporal punishment these days must, indeed, go someway towards the lack of respect youngsers have within society. emcee

2:26pm Mon 25 Jun 12

emcee says...

Max Impact wrote:
Make Mummy and Daddy pay the cost of the incident.

Ban the brat from owning a mobile and using the internet, take the playstation away and name and shame.
Absolutely.
[quote][p][bold]Max Impact[/bold] wrote: Make Mummy and Daddy pay the cost of the incident. Ban the brat from owning a mobile and using the internet, take the playstation away and name and shame.[/p][/quote]Absolutely. emcee

3:01pm Mon 25 Jun 12

southendconcern says...

My only concern with this story is why wasnt the shop owner shot? Come on Essex police get your act together.
My only concern with this story is why wasnt the shop owner shot? Come on Essex police get your act together. southendconcern

4:17pm Mon 25 Jun 12

JuliaM says...

Well, Mr Inthrajith has learned a valuable lesson - that lesson being, if you want the Essex Police to take you seriously and actually turn up when some brats are trashing your shop and shoplifting....tell them you think they might have a gun!
Well, Mr Inthrajith has learned a valuable lesson - that lesson being, if you want the Essex Police to take you seriously and actually turn up when some brats are trashing your shop and shoplifting....tell them you think they might have a gun! JuliaM

4:31pm Mon 25 Jun 12

terminatorgary says...

bahhahah sorry that is funny i bet they was like oh my good god and wen the cops left the shop owner was like plz come agen bhahahha lmao so funny sorry just my sence of humore i cant help it lol
bahhahah sorry that is funny i bet they was like oh my good god and wen the cops left the shop owner was like plz come agen bhahahha lmao so funny sorry just my sence of humore i cant help it lol terminatorgary

4:57pm Mon 25 Jun 12

King 'El says...

I agree with bob7. Ban all the pupils from this particular school. 6 months should be sufficent for starters. I doubt the loss of income will outweigh the peace of mind and sense of justice achieved. The behaviour of these young thugs and the lack of appropriate action by the
police is disgraceful.

Bar them Mr. Inthrajith !
It would be good to see other local shopkeepers taking similar action in support.
I agree with bob7. Ban all the pupils from this particular school. 6 months should be sufficent for starters. I doubt the loss of income will outweigh the peace of mind and sense of justice achieved. The behaviour of these young thugs and the lack of appropriate action by the police is disgraceful. Bar them Mr. Inthrajith ! It would be good to see other local shopkeepers taking similar action in support. King 'El

4:58pm Mon 25 Jun 12

southendconcern says...

yea supprised there was no shots fired, that would of been a real story.
yea supprised there was no shots fired, that would of been a real story. southendconcern

12:16pm Tue 26 Jun 12

pendulum says...

That's disgusting to hold up an innocent businessman at gunpoint and then, once it comes to light it was a malicious hoax call, refuse to take any action against the person or people responsible, even though you identified them. Shame on you once again Essex Police.
That's disgusting to hold up an innocent businessman at gunpoint and then, once it comes to light it was a malicious hoax call, refuse to take any action against the person or people responsible, even though you identified them. Shame on you once again Essex Police. pendulum

4:47pm Tue 26 Jun 12

The Cater Wood Creeper says...

Quote: "Police confirmed they did not find a firearm and said they gave the youngsters involved in the incident some “strong words of advice.”"
-
Good grief!. Well that's alright then


can't have them being treated more harshly than thiees and drug dealers though can we? After all if a caution is deemed punishment enough for growing a hundred cannabis plants and a slap on the wrist by ajudge is deemed good enough for oher mscreants anything other than a telling off would appear to be a bit heavy handed wouldn't it?

Justice system, my arse!
[quote]Quote: "Police confirmed they did not find a firearm and said they gave the youngsters involved in the incident some “strong words of advice.”" - Good grief!. Well that's alright then[/quote] can't have them being treated more harshly than thiees and drug dealers though can we? After all if a caution is deemed punishment enough for growing a hundred cannabis plants and a slap on the wrist by ajudge is deemed good enough for oher mscreants anything other than a telling off would appear to be a bit heavy handed wouldn't it? Justice system, my arse! The Cater Wood Creeper

5:18pm Tue 26 Jun 12

UK Fan says...

I wonder where all the folk are pointing at the shopowner, asking him to go back to where he came from, India, Sri Lanka.

What do you expect from a society where the 1980's style '**** bashing' is back en vogue. Feel free to fill in any other non British origin as you feel like.
I wonder where all the folk are pointing at the shopowner, asking him to go back to where he came from, India, Sri Lanka. What do you expect from a society where the 1980's style '**** bashing' is back en vogue. Feel free to fill in any other non British origin as you feel like. UK Fan

5:43pm Tue 26 Jun 12

maywood says...

These kids should be made to pay a penance for there actions.not just told off yet again.
These kids should be made to pay a penance for there actions.not just told off yet again. maywood

12:28pm Wed 27 Jun 12

The Cater Wood Creeper says...

UK Fan wrote:
I wonder where all the folk are pointing at the shopowner, asking him to go back to where he came from, India, Sri Lanka. What do you expect from a society where the 1980's style '**** bashing' is back en vogue. Feel free to fill in any other non British origin as you feel like.
they're queueing up at his till to buy stuff at a time of day when any local shops run by white blokes are shut.....
[quote][p][bold]UK Fan[/bold] wrote: I wonder where all the folk are pointing at the shopowner, asking him to go back to where he came from, India, Sri Lanka. What do you expect from a society where the 1980's style '**** bashing' is back en vogue. Feel free to fill in any other non British origin as you feel like.[/p][/quote]they're queueing up at his till to buy stuff at a time of day when any local shops run by white blokes are shut..... The Cater Wood Creeper

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