Police said they were investigating the circumstances of the death of Shaka Blair, of Buxton, at about 01:00 hrs (1 a.m.) yesterday which was followed about three hours after by protests in the village.

In scenes reminiscent of the East Coast disturbances after the March 19 general elections last year, a ditch about four feet wide was dug across the Railway Embankment road in Buxton, preventing vehicles from using it.

Police said criminal elements attacked and damaged several vehicles and a driver who was seriously injured in the head was hospitalised.

Traffic had to be diverted to the other East Coast main road and the ditch damage forced organisers to call off the `Go Guyana Run' marathon scheduled along the Embankment Road this morning.

Other main roads in Buxton were also blocked with huge planks and dug up in some parts but the village remained quiet up to late yesterday afternoon as Police mobile patrols maintained a close watch after the morning disturbances by mobs.

Blair, 33, was killed when Police ranks visited his home to arrest him for questioning in connection with the spate of hijacking and robberies in and around Georgetown last Easter Monday night, Police said in a press release.

Police said Blair's fingerprints were found on vehicles hijacked by bandits to commit robberies that night.

Based on photographs supplied, Police said he was identified by the victims as one of the bandits who had committed "acts of robberies and other criminal activities on the night of April 1, 2002."

Acting on information they received, Police ranks visited Blair's house in Buxton and attempted to arrest him but he refused to cooperate and instead discharged a loaded firearm at them, the press release said.

"As a consequence, Blair was struck and was immediately taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival", the Police statement said.

Blair's wife Susan and her two-year-old son, Shakiem, were in the house when the incident occurred.

Police said they recovered a .375 Smith and Wesson Magnum revolver, a quantity of live ammunition and spent shells and a live hand grenade from the scene.

Blair's wife did not want to speak about the incident later yesterday.

In another press release last night, Police said that at about 04:00 hrs, a crowd of about 400 converged on the Buxton Public Road "chanting and hurling abuses" while others lay across the road obstructing the free flow of traffic. Police who arrived dispersed this crowd, the release said.

Then at about 06:30 hrs, large boulders and logs were placed across the Embankment Road but Police said they removed these.

According to Police, at about 06:40 hrs, two mini-buses and a hire car were badly damaged when persons hurled bricks and other objects at them on the Buxton Public Road. The windshields, rearview mirrors and other parts of these vehicles were damaged.

Police said another vehicle was stoned by a mob on the Embankment Road and the driver who was seriously injured in the head was hospitalised.

Former TV `talk show host' Mark Benschop, with a video camera, featured prominently as the protest by the band began at around 08:00 hrs and, at one point, he was at the head of the group heading towards Riot Police deployed on the Embankment Road.

Witnesses said there was a standoff with some persons from the crowd pelting objects at the ranks.

Some protesters sat while others lay on the road. Others stood by or leaned on their bicycles hurling accusations at the Police.

The standoff continued for about 15 minutes when Police officers ordered the band to disperse.

When they refused, the Police fired warning shots and the group hurried off to seek cover, some jumping off their bicycles and preferring to run, according to witnesses.

Police subsequently removed the bicycles from the road.

A huge plank and a wooden stall blocked the Sideline Road leading from the main road in the village to the highway.

Other materials, including old lantern posts and tree trunks were placed across the road at different points.

The Police took control of the Embankment Road, redirecting traffic to the other main road and ensuring there was a smooth flow of traffic.

Police last night called on Buxton residents to "dissociate themselves from criminal elements and to adopt lawful means to address any perceived problems."

"The wanton destruction of property and intimidation of peaceful and innocent persons by widespread unlawful and illegal activities will not be tolerated", Police said.

The statement added: "Persons have a right to go about their daily lives and business without fear. Persons who take the law into their own hands must be prepared to face the consequences."

The Police Force Friday increased to $10M the reward for information leading to the capture of the five heavily armed and dangerous prisoners linked to the murder Tuesday of top anti-crime cop, Superintendent Leon Fraser.

The five have also been implicated in the Easter Monday hijackings and robberies

Police last week confirmed that the car hidden in the bushes from which Fraser was shot dead was the station wagon hijacked from a Canadian couple in the city around midnight Monday.

According to Police, scientific tests have so far shown that at least one of the five escapees had been in the hijacked car found at Yarowkabra on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway where Fraser was killed.

The five also killed Prison Officer, Troy Williams, 21, when they broke out of the Georgetown jail on February 23 and shot Woman Prison Officer, Roxanne Whinfield, 36, in the head as they fled. She remains in critical condition in the Georgetown Hospital.

Those on the run are Andrew Douglas, Mark Fraser, Shawn Brown, Troy Dick and Dale Moore, all linked to the notorious `Blackie' criminal gang.

The `Blackie' ring was led by Linden `Blackie' London who was shot dead when he was cornered in a Police-Army operation in an Eccles, East Bank Demerara guest house in February 1999.