Qatar residents in Duhail have voiced concern and fear after a man was apparently drowned in an altercation at a residential compound there last week.
Speaking to Doha News, a staffer at the Zahrat Al Wadi compound (formerly known as Rose Valley) said the incident involved three Nepali men – including the compound supervisor – and took place last Tuesday night, July 29.
Many residents reported hearing shouting at the poolside around 9pm that evening.
Shortly after 10pm that night, witnesses saw the compound supervisor exit the property by jumping over a wall. The supervisor’s clothing was said to be dripping with water as he left the scene, and he looked like he was crying.
Footage seen by Doha News showed the supervisor’s companion breaking into a run as he exited the compound at the same time. Those who reported the men for suspicious behavior theorized that they were intoxicated, but this information cannot be confirmed.
Compound security was called soon after 10pm, and it was then that the Nepali man was found lying in the swimming pool, unconscious.
Hours later, at 1am, police and an ambulance appeared at the scene, the employee who spoke to Doha News said.
Aftermath
Residents and workers at the compound told Doha News that the supervisor was arrested by police last week, but released on bail on Aug. 2. Further investigations are said to be ongoing.
After being released, the supervisor returned to work the next day as usual, but did not show up yesterday.
Today, workers at the compound confirmed that the supervisor has been fired and replaced with a man who has been working for the compound owner for years, painting and doing various other jobs.
Meanwhile, the pool area was closed off for several days, but has since reopened, residents told Doha News. However, the water had been drained out of the pool and was not ready to be used today.
In the absence of any official information at Zahrat Al Wadi, rumors have been quickly spreading throughout the compound community.
A British resident at the compound told Doha News:
“Residents have no idea what’s going on and are now afraid that the person responsible might be walking around again. No one seems to be taking it seriously. What concerns me is that we are not being informed if it was an accident or not. The neighbors still haven’t been questioned, which is bizarre. I’m from the UK and that’s first thing police would do.”
However, the incident has caused management to tackle compound safety with renewed effort, security guards told Doha News:
“The management has made some changes as a result of the incident. Before, only four of the pool lights were working. Immediately after the news broke, they requested that all 10 lights be fixed. The management is also consistently checking that we write down the details of every person that enters and leaves the compound.”
Although the majority of compound residents are away for summer vacation, some who remain have said they no longer want to live in the compound. One resident told Doha News:
“We are trying to get hold of the owner to get out of our compound contract. What’s happened is a very sad situation. We demand more information. I will be going back (to request more information) today to see if we can get any update.”
Thoughts?
