Cops rescue kidnapped teen

FOLLOWING two days of beating at the hands of his captors, teenaged kidnap victim Vishan Singh was rescued yesterday. And one of the kidnappers was held. According to reports, following intense investigations and acting on a tip-off, members of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad (AKS) went to an abandoned house at Seventh Avenue, Malick, Barataria where they found the accounting student lying on the floor with bruises to his body, blindfolded with his mouth gagged, and his hands and feet tied. A man who was guarding Singh ran off but was held a short distance away after he stumbled and fell, injuring his foot.

Both men were rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where Singh was treated and after speaking to his family he was then handed over to members of the AKS who whisked him away to continue with their inquiry. The injured suspect, aged 21, remained at the hospital under police guard. Singh, 17, was kidnapped outside a meat shop on the Aranjuez Main Road on Friday night by three men in a silver car. A relative of Singh told Newsday, “The kidnappers contacted another brother of Vishan for the second time on Saturday night and again demanded a $1million ransom for his release. When the brother said his family are poor farmers and they do not have that money, the kidnappers told him to see how much they can get and they would be contacted again on Monday (today).”

Another relative said that his father had already bought seven ducks to go by the river to celebrate his (father) birthday today but instead he would be having prayers thanking God for the release of his son. AKS sources confirmed Singh was beaten, fed on cake and tied up. Investigators believe the arrest of another person is imminent. Spearheading the rescue were ASP Adam Joseph, along with Sgts Isaac, Herbert and PCs Khan, Scipio, Jugmohan, George, and others. In other news, relatives of two-time kidnap victim Ravi Kallipersad Maharaj confirmed to Newsday that they received an undisclosed ransom demand on Saturday night for his release. According to the relatives the kidnappers contacted the home, made the demands and hung up. It was the first call they had received since his kidnapping on Thursday.

Maharaj was kidnapped on Thursday afternoon as he was pulling into his Plover Street, Lange Park, Chaguanas home. The Chaguanas businessman is the State’s main witness against five men charged with his September 2002 kidnapping. In similar circumstances the family of Valsayn businessman Chris Elves has heard nothing from his abductors since he was kidnapped in February. Elves was kidnapped while liming outside his Bassie Street, Spring Village, Valsayn east home on February 10.