Accountant snatched from keep-fit class

Two kidnappers, one armed with a gun and the other with a cutlass stormed a keep-fit class in progress at the Caroni Community Centre on Wednesday night, ordered all of the occupants to lie on the ground and then placed a gun to the head of 33-year-old accountant Shamshoon Mohammed. The two dragged the screaming woman out of the community centre and into a waiting B-15 car. Up until late yesterday, the kidnappers did not make any contact with relatives of the victim. Her kidnapping is the 179th for the year. Mohammed, who is an accountant with the San Juan branch of Mario’s Pizza, was described as a quiet and reserved person. The incident occurred around 7 pm while the keep-fit class was in full progress and made up mostly of women. Some of the women were treated for shock while others remained locked up inside their homes yesterday, fearful of going out. Up to late yesterday, worried relatives of the girl awaited word from the kidnappers to no avail.

Her father Shaffick, who operates a successful roti business at his home known as Rosie and Dudley’s, told Newsday that his daughter is in dire need of her medication since she is ill and her life could be in danger if she is not given the medication. He pleaded with kidnappers to return his daughter to him. The worried man told Newsday that his daughter has been attending the keep-fit class for the past two years. He added that he never for a moment thought that any of his children were targets for kidnappers, since the money earned from the business is enough to maintain his family and keep the business afloat. He added that when his daughter left home to attend classes at the community centre located close to their home, he never knew that her life would be in danger. He added that his daughter is a quiet person who has lived a sheltered life and he is still in shock over the situation. Mohammed said that after the kidnapping, he was told of the news by villagers who witnessed the incident, and almost all of the villagers of New Street, Caroni, gathered at his home on Wednesday to lend their support and await word from the kidnappers. He said that officers from Central Division as well as those from the Anti-Kidnapping Squad interviewed persons who witnessed the kidnapping.