Kidnappers demand $2M ransom

THE kidnappers of Princes Town businesswoman Tricia Suryadevera, 26, who was snatched from her businessplace by three masked gunmen on Monday morning, have reportedly contacted her worried family and demanded $2 million for her safe release,  according to senior police officers who are probing the kidnapping. However, during an  interview with Newsday yesterday, Suryadevera’s father, prominent businessman Teeluck Shirkissoon, denied ever being contacted by the kidnappers, or knowing about any ransom demand. Suryadevera who was married seven months ago, was bundled into a B13 Sentra car after being accosted by three masked gunmen inside her businessplace, Trinkets Ltd, on Monday morning. Hours after the snatching, police sources said, the kidnappers called Suryadevera’s family telling them she was alright, and they were demanding $2M for her safe release.

Sources told Newsday that Shirkissoon, owner of Teelucksingh Furniture Appliances and General Store, did not have that amount of money, since his business was heavily mortgaged. Shirkissoon told the media yesterday that Trinidadians were no longer safe in this country and could no longer enjoy the fruits of their labour. He also said he planned to close down his chain of businesses, once his daughter was released, and leave the country for good. When contacted yesterday to comment on these remarks, Shirkissoon refused to say anything further. He did say that he preferred not to have “no big set of write-up in the papers,” because they were reporting erroneous information. Since the abduction, family members have been spending every waking moment praying for the safe return of the young woman, who married Ravi Suryadevera, seven months ago. They live on the top floor of a massive building off High Street, Princes Town, in which the kidnap victim’s store, Trinkets Ltd, is located. Shirkissoon revealed that he had increased security at his businessplace, and was keeping close tabs on his other child, a son. The Anti-Kidnapping Squad (AKS) and Princes Town police are investigating the abduction.