WITHIN just a few hours of the declaration of a 96-hour curfew in Four Paths, Clarendon, on Monday the security forces began to reap success, having seized one firearm and arrested four men in connection with the seizure.

The curfew was imposed less than 24 hours after eight people, including a seven-year-old boy, were shot and killed in Cherry Tree Lane in Four Paths on Sunday, during a game of bingo at a birthday celebration. Nine others were shot and injured.

The bingo game and birthday celebration were taking place in the general area of the First Lady HQ bar in the community where several people, including children, had gathered.

It is believed that the men were on their way to carry out a reprisal attack in response to Sunday’s mass murder when they were held. One of them tried to dispose of a bag with the firearm and the police had to give chase as an attempt was made to escape.

As members of Jamaica Constabulary Force and Jamaica Defence Force began to swarm the community on Monday afternoon the four men, who were believed to be travelling together on two motorcycles, were accosted by members of the security forces and searched. A weapon was found and the four men arrested. The gun and the two motorcycles were seized.

As the Jamaica Observer was on the scene when the men were being questioned by members of the security forces, one was overheard telling another that he should shut his mouth and not say anything as he had the right to remain silent.

When the two motorcycles were being placed in the back of a police pickup, the same man who had been instructing his crony to be quiet was heard telling the police that one of the motorcycles had legitimate documentation, as if to protest its seizure.

A policeman told him that he should be quiet and not say anything about the motorcycle.