Remains were those of kidnapped taxi driver -- DNA test confirms by Michel Outridge DNA results show that the skeletal remains found in March on the East Coast Demerara were those of missing taxi driver, Vivekanand Nandlall, who was abducted on October 15 last year. Taxi driver, Vivekanand Nandlall The test confirmed that the remains discovered aback of Bachelor’s Adventure on March 12, last, were those of Nandlall. Relatives yesterday received the report from the police upon the return of the results from a U.S. lab and immediately started to make arrangements for the funeral expected to take place today. The remains of Nandlall, 20, of Lot 125 A, Non Pariel, Block 12, East Coast Demerara, were found aback of the Bachelor’s Adventure Squatting Area by a Guyana Sugar Corporation field supervisor at about 08:30 hrs. Some 15 persons were working there when the gruesome discovery was made. The area in which the human skeletal remains were found was burned and harvested about a month prior to the discovery. The human skeleton had what appeared to be a bullet hole on the left side skull. The skeleton was found in a drain and an autopsy revealed that Nandlall was killed by a single gunshot wound to the head. The taxi driver was kidnapped on October 15, 2003 by a group of men while on a routine pickup in his silver gray motorcar PGG 3648 in the vicinity of Annandale Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara. On the morning of October 18, 2003, three days after the abduction, relatives dropped off a $1M ransom after a demand of $5M was made by the abductors by telephone. Nandlall’s motorcar was found abandoned on the Annandale Railway Embankment and six set of fingerprints were discovered. Contact with the abductors ceased after that. Soon after the police issued a release a wanted bulletin for several suspects who they believe can assist in the investigations. Nandlall’s parents had also flown to Guyana and made several tearful appeals for the safe release of their loved one. On November 4, 2003, during a visit to the Office of the President by relatives, including the mother, Priya Nandlall, President Bharrat Jagdeo promised to render assistance to the family. The Government of Guyana assisted the family by footing the entire cost of the DNA test done in the U.S. A police report on November 5, 2003 stated that 87 houses/buildings were searched and 23 persons arrested, detained and/or questioned. It said that area searches were conducted in Buxton, Eastville Housing Scheme, Buxton, Bare Root, Paradise, Enterprise backlands, and Bachelor’s Adventure, all on the East Coast Demerara. The parents who are in Guyana, were in such a depressed state yesterday they could not comment but were satisfied that they finally know that the remains discovered were those of their son and they can now bury him according to Hindu rites. Saturday, JULY 03, 2004

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