Tabaquite quarry owner abducted, released

WITHIN hours of being kidnapped from his quarry in Tabaquite, businessman Ramkanath Parray, 43, who struggled with his abductors while in their car, was thrown out the vehicle at the side of the road. Up to late yesterday, police could not determine the motive since no demand for money was made. Almost five hours after he was abducted at 4.30 am yesterday, an injured Parray, also known as “Porshy,” was found lying at the side of a lonely road in Carlsen Field by a passerby around 11 am. Police said Parray had a wound on the head.

He was taken to the Gran Couva Police Station and then to the Couva Hospital where he was treated and transferred to the Gulf View Nursing Home. Errol Rawlins, 69, a watchman at the quarry, told Newsday that around 2.30 am he was inside a house at the Yellow Lime stone quarry on Guaracara Road, Tabaquite, when he heard dogs barking. Rawlins said that around 4.30 am, he heard barking again, and went out to investigate. A police report stated that a masked man put a gun to Rawlins’ head, tied his hands and feet and  gagged him. Police said the gunman kept asking Rawlins for Parray.

Rawlins said when Parray arrived some 15 minutes later, he heard gunshots. Three other workers who arrived with Parray were also accosted. According to the police report, the kidnappers were three men who were armed with a gun and cutlasses. One worker who was also accosted said he saw Parray struggle with one of the kidnappers during which two shots were fired. Parray was placed in a white car which sped out of the quarry.