TOWN HEAD, Westmoreland – Two men were last night being interrogated by the police in connection with yesterday’s gruesome discovery of the mutilated bodies of two primary school students in the usually peaceful community, here.

The bodies of Shanna-Kay Legister, 9, and Sheneka Shakes, 8, both grade three students of the Town Head Primary School, were found in canefields a mile apart, a day after they went missing.

The discovery of the bodies sparked a three-hour demonstration in the community, as area residents blocked sections of the Savanna-la-Mar to Town Head main road to vent their disgust at the killing of the two children.

“This is wickedness, those involved must be brought to justice,” one of the protestors told the Observer.

Shortly before the blockade was cleared by the police just before mid-day, residents set upon a man whom they accused of murdering the two children. The man, who was severely beaten, was rescued by the police. He was taken to the Frome Police Station. It was not clear last night if he was one of the two being questioned by cops.

Dr Peter Phillips, the security minister, who last night condemned the killing of the two girls, said the commissioner of police was already taking all the necessary steps to find the perpetrators.

Residents reported that at about 8:30 am Wednesday, Sheneka, accompanied by her friend Shanna-Kay, left school to visit her sister, Suzie Shakes.

Relatives said that the girls reportedly left Suzie’s home for school, using a “short cut”.

Shortly after 5:00 pm, when the children did not arrive at their respective homes, residents launched a search for them.

At about 6:00 am yesterday the search party stumbled on the body of Sheneka in a canefield. Her blood-stained body, which was reportedly found in the nude, was battered, fuelling speculation that she was severely beaten and raped before she was killed.

About four hours later, as the search continued, Shanna-Kay’s body was found in canefield in a similar state.

“Her body really looked awful. It seems like them rape her and beat her up,” said Shanna-Kay’s aunt, who refused to give her name.

The killing of the two children left residents as well as the entire school population in a state of shock.

“Mi nuh know how mi a go manage without her; mi really feel it,” Sheneka’s grief-stricken mother, Janice Tomlinson told the Observer.

“She was very quiet and a bright girl in school,” said Tomlinson, who had to seek medical attention after the discovery of her daughter’s body.

Shanna-Kay’s aunt, Careen Clarke, found it difficult to come to grips with the death of her niece. “I don’t know why they would do a thing like that to Shanna-Kay. When the others are gone to bed she would sit with me and we would talk until it is late,” said Clarke.

“To murder these young girls like that is just wickedness,” said a resident of the small community.

Wayne Pasco, pastor of the New Testament Church of God in the community, said the persons responsible should be treated with the full force of the law.

Principal of the Town Head Primary School Bovel Ackbersingh said staff and students were in finding it difficult to cope. “We are taking it very hard; it has been affecting us very badly,” she said.

She added that as a result of the incident, yesterday’s graduation and prize-giving ceremony at the school was postponed. Sheneka was to receive a prize.

A new date for the function will be set today at a meeting of the school’s teaching staff. Ackbersingh, who has taught at the Town Head school for more than 30 years, told the Observer that the murdered students were very quiet, friendly and very co-operative.

“They were always smiling, obedient and courteous, and their attendance at school as well and their school work were very good,” she said.

She said the more than 400 students at the school would be given counselling over the next few days.