Senior Reporter
rhondor.dowlat@guardian.co.tt
With tears flowing as she stood outside the family’s El Socorro, San Juan house yesterday, Rosina Ramdawar thanked God for safely returning her niece, Anesha Narine-Boodhoo, to her family from the hands of kidnappers.
Narine-Boodhoo, a mother of two, reportedly returned home at about 4 am. However, police sources remained tight-lipped as to whether she escaped, was released or was rescued by police.
Guardian Media was told by police sources that a sum of $60,000 was paid to the alleged kidnappers for her safe release, but Snr Supt Mervyn Edwards, minutes after he walked out of Narine-Boodhoo’s home at Girez Lane, El Socorro Road, yesterday afternoon, confirmed that no ransom was paid.
Asked about the $60,000 ransom figure that was was bandied about, Edwards said he didn’t know anything about that and repeated no ransom was paid.
Edwards then said Narine-Boodhoo was at home and had been reunited with family members and was surrounded by them at the time.
Guardian Media was told earlier that Narine-Boodhoo was taken to the hospital, where she was medically examined.
There were differing reports about how she gained her freedom and her condition when she returned home. One report stated Narine-Boodhoo walked into her home at 4 am and was unhurt but very traumatised.
Speaking with members of the media, Ramdawar said she too was not clear on the circumstances.
“I couldn’t sleep. I got up and held on to my murti and said a prayer for her. She is my niece, my brother’s daughter. I prayed for her to return home safely and now I feel good,” Ramdawar said.
“This morning (Tuesday) I went to the clinic and when I got in the taxi, I heard the news and decided to come see her. I live two streets away from here and I come straight to see her. I really feeling good but I don’t know how she reached home here, if she escaped or if the police found her.”
There were several police officers entering Narine-Boodhoo’s home and a team remained seated in an SUV parked in front of the main gate throughout the day.
Neighbours, who wished to speak under strict anonymity, thanked God for Narine-Boodhoo’s safe release.
One neighbour said, “Well, I heard it early this morning that she is home and she is ok. Thank God they didn’t kill her or anything because she is a good person. Everybody likes her.”
Another neighbour said, “You hearing all kinds of things since the kidnapping but I’m glad to hear she back home safe and sound. The police should arrest the people behind it and put them behind bars. Crime is a runaway horse and nobody cares.”
Narine-Boodhoo was snatched from her SUV outside the family’s business, Autorama Ltd, by four men who were dressed in what appeared to be police tactical uniforms and in a vehicle with flashing blue lights.
On Saturday, police found a burnt-out shell of a Toyota Rush vehicle, similar to the one used in the kidnapping, in Centeno, south of the Churchill Roosevelt Highway.
