Cops detain three in boy’s kidnapping

THREE male suspects were up to late last night being questioned in connection with the Monday night kidnapping of ten-year-old Vijay Persad, who was snatched by three bandits outside his father’s Moruga businessplace. The suspects, aged 33, 28 and 24, all of St Mary’s Village in Moruga, were arrested Tuesday night and were being interrogated at Princes Town CID. Police sources confirmed that a ransom had been demanded for the boy’s safe release but refused to divulge the amount, saying investigations were at a delicate stage. However, it was learned that the kidnappers are demanding $500,000.

Police yesterday continued searching the forested area of St Mary’s Village, Moruga in the hope of locating the boy. Persad, the son of Rajkumar Persad — proprietor of R Persad Groceries and Snackette — was snatched on Monday after his father refused to allow three men to enter his shop located in front the Persad’s Indian Walk, Moruga home. Persad’s three siblings were with their father packing stocks in the refrigerator, while he (Persad) was about to secure the front door to the shop. Three men walked up to the store around 8 pm and threatened to kidnap Vijay if Rajkumar did not allow them inside. Thinking the men were bluffing, the father refused. The men subsequently grabbed Vijay and ran into some nearby bushes. Persad was spotted sometime later at St Mary’s Junction with the three men. ASP Joseph Nathaniel and Sgt Errol Ramdath are spearheading investigations.