(GINA) -- President Bharrat Jagdeo has undertaken to further assist the family of Vivekanand Nandalall, 20, who was kidnapped on October 17, 2003.
Nandalall, known as 'Boyee,' a taxi driver of Block 12 Non Pariel, East Coast Demerara, has not been seen since he left to make a pick-up at Enterprise following a call to his base. This is according to the victim's mother, Ms Priya Nandalall, who, along with other relatives, met the Head of State at the Office of the President yesterday morning.
Ms Nandalall noted that the President was very receptive and sympathetic to the family and promised to assist wherever possible.
Expressing her sentiments just after the meeting, she noted, "The President said he would try his best to help us. He said he already sent out some Police to Bruche Dam, because I came with that information."
The woman said she is very appreciative of the gesture by the President, but still feels her loss immensely, as there is no word about her son's condition or whereabouts.
The family was accompanied to the closed-door meeting by other relatives, friends and concerned neighbours.
Nandalall's parents have since paid a ransom of $1M, but did not receive their son, as was promised by the kidnappers.
In an invited comment to the Government Information Agency (GINA), the mother made another public appeal for information leading to the whereabouts of the young man.
The Guyana Police Force issued a detailed statement on October 20, about the operations to find Nandalall.
* The recovered taxi was immediately dusted and six sets of fingerprints were uplifted while between 9:00 and 11:55 hours, the Police teams conducted searches in Buxton backlands. The teams cordoned off the area and searched five abandoned houses and one home on Company Road. During this process, one man was arrested, questioned and subsequently released.
* The same morning, ranks visited the victim's relatives and spent the greater part of the day there until late in the evening.
* Between 12:15 and 13:40 hours, the Police team cordoned off and searched four houses and one abandoned house between Buxton and Strathspey Squatting Area. A quantity of clothing, a pair of boots and towels were found at Middle Street at a residence. One woman was arrested during this search. She is before the Court on several charges, including indecent exposure and obstructing a peace officer.
* Eight abandoned buildings were searched in the Bare Root Area between the hours of 14:25 and 15:50.
* Following a ransom call, ranks searched a shop at Friendship between 16:15 and 17:00 hours. Seven persons were arrested and subsequently released on bail on October 18.
* Seven houses were searched at Brushe Dam, Friendship between 17:10 and 17:50 hours, when one man was held for questioning and later released.
* Later in the evening of October 17, the ransom demand was reduced from $5M to $1M. The following morning (October 18), at approximately 4:00 hours, the money was delivered but the victim was not seen and there has been no further contact with the kidnappers.
* The Police searched three houses and one abandoned building at Watson Street, North Friendship between 9:15 and 9:55 hours.
* Between 10:35 and 11:05 hours the Police searched six stalls at Company Road market following a tip-off that one of the suspects was seen earlier on Buxton Railway Embankment Road. Three men were arrested, but were later released on bail.
* Four houses were searched between Church of God Road and Sideline Dam, this occurred between the hours of 11:20 and 12:35 hours.
* Ranks cordoned off and searched four houses between Brushe Dam, Annandale and Golden Grove between 13:15 and 15:00 hours. A woman suspected of being an acquaintance of one of the suspects was arrested, and later released on bail on October 19.
* At 15:35 hours, based on information received, four persons were arrested but no useful information was obtained.
* Between 16:30 and 16:35 hours a house at Company Road was cordoned off and searched.
* Two persons came to the Police claiming that they were wanted in relation to the kidnapping between the hours of 18:05 and 18:25. They were processed and later released on October 19.
* On October 19, between 11:00 and 13:00 hours, 13 abandoned houses were searched in the Bare Root Area.
* At 12:00 hours the home of one of the suspects was searched.
* The Police teams conducted searches in the East Ville Backdam area between the hours of 13:15 and 14:05.
* At 15:20 hours, Police, acting on information, arrested a woman from Bachelor's Adventure. She was later released.
* On October 20, between the hours of 6:00 and 6:15 the Police searched two abandoned houses at Middle Street, Buxton, an unfinished Church at Paradise Housing Scheme; two houses and two unfinished buildings at Buxton, and 10 abandoned houses in Buxton, Sideline/East Ville area. A Police beret, a first aid book and pair of army boots were found.
* Between the hours of 5:15 and 6:45 on October 21, ranks conducted searches on six abandoned buildings at Bare Root, Bachelor's Adventure. A piece of duct tape with hair attached was found on the access road leading to the canefields.
The Police release further stated that from the time of the report of the kidnapping to October 21, several other activities were conducted, but due to their nature, information on them cannot be divulged.
Eighty-seven houses/buildings have been searched and 23 persons have been arrested, detained and/or questioned. And area searches were conducted in Buxton, East Ville, Bare Root, Paradise and Enterprise Back Dams.
The President's meeting with Nandalall's relatives follows an earlier visit to relatives by the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Region Four Member of Parliament Neil Kumar.
Minister of Home Affairs Mr. Ronald Gajraj has been in constant contact with relatives of the kidnapped victim. (Government Information Agency)