Glenroy Sinclair, Senior Crime Reporter

At this time last year, residents of Palmers Cross, Clarendon, were high in spirits and looking forward to enjoy the peace and tranquility of Christmas, but since the start of the month things have not been so peaceful. Six persons have been shot, two fatally, since Saturday.

The small, rural community is now gripped with fear and residents have to keep dodging bullets, whenever the rival gunmen clashed in the bushes, pathways or in the streets. Things took a turn for the worse last Saturday when a so-called area leader, Leon 'Bingi' Thompson, was murdered in the community.

Between Saturday morning and Sunday night, four other persons were wounded and yesterday another man, Tyrone Reid, was shot and killed.

"This is an area that we had some problems in July last year, but we put things in place and everything returned to normal. This year there is a conflict between rival gangs," said Superintendent Derrick 'Cowboy' Knight.

He said he has since put in place several foot patrols in the troubled community, plus additional resources to prevent further reprisals and discomfort to the law-abiding citizens.

Based on the evidence that has surfaced, the police believe one of the gangs is linked to criminal elements operating in Spanish Town, St. Catherine. Palmers Cross is one of several communities that Superin-tendent Knight has raised concerns about.

Speaking with The Gleaner earlier this year, Supt. Knight said that apart from a lack of resources, some of the areas were difficult to police because of the poor infrastructure.

This was in addition to itinerant criminals who move across borders, linking up with the locals to perpetrate crime.