TT cops rescue kidnapped woman

In a camp hidden deep inside a forested area in a precipice off the North Coast Road, police officers rescued 22-year-old Avita Bissoondatt, last Thursday evening.

And in the search for the kidnapped student, police killed one of her captors, while three others were said to be on the run.

Dead is a 25-year-old career criminal with the alias "Sandman" known to police for previous crimes including kidnapping, robbery, and the trafficking of illegal drugs.

Bissoondatt, who lives with her grandmother at Soledad Road, Lange Park in Chaguanas, went missing two Saturday evenings ago.

Bissoondatt, the niece of attorney Darin Bissoondatt, vanished after she met with a girlfriend, Shanice Ramcharan. Police are still searching for Ramcharan, who lived at an apartment in St. Augustine.

The day after the kidnapping, Bissoondatt's car was found burnt in a forested area of Valencia.

The drama surrounding Bissoondatt's rescue mission unfolded around 1.30 that Thursday afternoon.

Acting on a tip, the officers, including homicide detectives and members of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, found Bissoondatt's prison.

Bissoondatt's four captors greeted the police with automatic gunfire. The police returned fire and "Sandman" was killed.

One of his cohorts ran further into the forest while the other two dived off of a cliff, police said.

Police believe the diving duo may already be dead and the trio may have also been shot.

But in case they were not, the authorities were asking all medical institutions to be on the look out for persons nursing gunshot injuries.

Bissoondatt came out of the forest bearing a beautiful smile, with a sense of relief and gratitude in her eyes. She was placed into an awaiting ambulance after being carried out on one the ambulance's stretchers. She was carried to the Port of Spain General Hospital where a medical examination was performed.

Curious onlookers, who slowed down at the scene of the heightened police activity, remarked at the increased spate of violence in the once serene area.

On Sunday, Roopdath Alexander, 37, and then on Tuesday Marcel Wynn, 39, were both shot dead in the district.

(Trinidad Express)