KIDNAP VICTIM ESCAPES

The Charlieville businessman was abducted last Thursday night while praying in front of his home, and a $1 million ransom demanded by abductors. Three gunmen had robbed his wife of $4,000 in cash and then bundled Singh into a vehicle.

Speaking with Newsday at his Charlieville home yesterday, a barebacked Singh, who was nursing wounds to his wrists, feet, hands and back, said "prayers may have saved my life." He added that the ordeal he endured is something he would not wish on anyone.

In recalling the events of the abduction, Singh said that after being snatched on Thursday night, he was blindfolded, tied up and gagged. He was then transferred from one vehicle to another. Nandlal revealed that he was then ordered out of the vehicle, dragged through a ravine, and ordered to climb a steep hill. Grimacing in pain, Singh, a devout Hindu, said the kidnappers tied him to a bamboo patch on Thursday night and guarded him until Friday morning. He was fed biscuits and water.

On Friday, he was drenched by the pouring rain and on Friday night, mosquitoes stung his body.

Singh begged his kidnappers to release him, but they threatened to kill him if he tried to escape.

On Saturday, he was handed a cell phone and spoke to his brother. He begged his brothers to meet the kidnappers’ demands. The phone conversation lasted less than a minute.

On Saturday night, another man was sent to guard him at the bamboo patch. The threats continued on Sunday, but Singh said he continued praying.

Around 7 pm on Sunday, he realised that he was no longer being guarded and found the strength to free himself. Singh said he looked around and saw only darkness and bushes.

He walked for several miles until he found a main road and saw a woman sitting in a vehicle.

He identified himself as a kidnap victim, prompting the woman to call her son who arrived on the scene.

Police officers were then contacted, and they took Singh to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex. He was treated and discharged.

Newsday learnt that officers of the North Eastern Task Force conducted an exercise in the Santa Cruz forest on Sunday in a bid to find kidnap victims.

Their presence in the area may have caused the men to leave Singh unguarded.

The father of five told Newsday he never saw himself as a target for kidnappers but the incident has left him traumatised and jumpy. He is afraid to venture out of his home.

Officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad are investigating.