Kidnapped Vijay turns 11 today

VIJAY Persad celebrates his eleventh birthday today, but at the Persad’s residence in Indian Walk, Moruga, there is no joy or happiness and there will be no parties, balloons, birthday cake or presents. Instead, Persad’s parents’ Rajkumar and Marilyn will continue to pray fervently and meditate on the Bhagvad Gita (the Hindu Holy Book) as they await word on the fate of their child, who was kidnapped 93 days ago. “I wish I could hold my son now and tell him ‘happy birthday’,” Rajkumar told Newsday during an interview yesterday. “Happy birthday my son. I want you to know we love you and are praying night and day for your safe release,” the worried man said. When Newsday arrived at the Persad residence, Rajkumar was leaning on the counter of the shop, which is in front of the residence, reading the Holy Gita. Persad was snatched from that shop by three men on June 21.

Despite searches by police, the army and ordinary citizens, and public appeals by politicians and businessmen for Vijay to be returned to his family, the whereabouts of the youngster remains a mystery. Police sources told Newsday they were not even certain if Vijay was alive, adding that in most kidnap cases, victims were not kept in captivity for such a length of time. The original ransom demand of $300,000 has not been paid as yet. Persad’s anguished father yesterday made a tearful appeal to his son’s kidnappers to release the boy, especially on the occasion of his birthday. “We missing him plenty and we praying on a daily basis for his safe release,” Rajkumar stated,  as he struggled to hold back tears. “I beg of you, whoever is holding my boy captive, I beg of you to please free him. His family, especially his siblings, are grieving for him. I want back my son please,” Rajkumar added.

Persad’s mother Marilyn was overcome with emotion and refused to say anything. While Newsday interviewed Rajkumar, his wife sat nearby in a daze while their two-year-old daughter Anna sat in her mother’s lap looking on. Rajkumar said if his son was released today, he would quickly make the necessary arrangements to have a grand birthday/welcome home celebration with cake, food and lots of balloons. Vijay’s two other siblings — older sister Nirmala and younger brother Sanjay — were at school yesterday. Asked if he had been in recent contact with police investigating the kidnapping, Rajkumar said yes and revealed the police were following up several new leads. “Yes, the police have leads but I am not sure as to what they are. “But I am hoping for the best and hope these leads prove to be vital this time around and they find my boy.”

Rajkumar, who opened an account, a few weeks ago, at a commercial bank for members of the public to assist with the raising of the ransom demand, again pleaded with the public for help, saying that apart from the ransom issue, he wanted to secure funds to hire private investigators to search for Vijay. On June 21, while helping his father lock the gates to the shop at the front of the house, young Persad was snatched by three men who were earlier refused entry into the shop by Rajkumar. Vijay is the second child under the age of ten to have been kidnapped and not yet released or found. On Wednesday, May 14 2003, Mark Prescott, then a second year pupil of San Fernando Boys’ RC School, was kidnapped after school. His bus driver first noticed him missing.

Hours after his abduction, someone called the family and demanded one million dollars in ransom. That was the only telephone call the family received regarding his disappearance. Mark will celebrate his eighth birthday in December. Missing now for a year and four months, Prescott holds the local record for the longest length of time a kidnap victim has been held. According to police sources, with no word from the kidnappers since the snatching, while the case has not been closed officially, investigators have all but given up hope of locating Prescott — who they believe is either living in another country or dead.