Teen abducted; kidnappers want $50,000 and demand police stay out

Kidnappers of Pavati “Peggy” Maharaj and demanding $50,000 for the release of the student of North Eastern College, Sangre Grande, who was kidnapped from her Cumuto home on Wednesday evening.

The family has told the media that the abductors have threatened to kill her if police intervene.

A media report Friday said three gunmen seized the young woman, ransacked the family home, tied up her mother, Premati, and her brother, Roshan, and waited for her father, Harold, to come home.

The report said when Harold entered the house the kidnappers beat him and stole his bank cards. It added that they then changed into Harold's clothes and escaped in the man's his Toyota station wagon. One family member said the gunmen "cleaned out" the house and took everything that could fit in the vehicle.

Officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad have searched the area but have not found any evidence to trace the kidnappers, who called in their ransom demand Wednesday night.