Families tight-lipped about circumstances surrounding their disappearance and return
THE couple reported missing last weekend, Dr Samsundar Lakeram and his fiancée, Ms. R adica Dwarka, were reunited with their anxious families yesterday afternoon.

The doctor’s father, Lakeram (only name given), who made the disclosure, said he was not at liberty to say if a ransom was paid. However, he was thankful that his son and his paramour were not harmed.

Relatives added that the two are much traumatised and wanted some time alone, after being returned to the Lakerams’ Nonpariel, East Coast Demerara home.

Their families were very tight-lipped about the circumstances surrounding their disappearance and return.

The well-known owner of ‘Best Buy’ hardware store, on Nonpareil Public Road, said his son left home on Saturday in his vehicle, about 09:30 h, to have a laptop computer repaired and purchase a new cellular phone in Georgetown. The 25-year-old Dwarka was with him.

However, at nightfall, when the medical practitioner did not come back, the family tried to contact him on his cell phone but the calls were unanswered and a report was made to the Police the following morning.

The businessman told the Guyana Chronicle, when his son’s vehicle was discovered abandoned in the seawall vicinity of Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, they knew something was amiss because it was unlike the couple to act irresponsibly.

The vehicle that contained the personal belongings of the couple is in Police custody.

At the Block ‘CC’ Mon Repos home of the Dwarkas, also on East Coast Demerara, Radica’s father, Chato Dwarka, was still awaiting her arrival.

He had been aware that the couple were seeing each other for about two years and had planned their wedding.

The man knew his daughter left in company with the doctor and said they were going, as usual, to pay bills and buy the cellular phone.

But, when she, too, did not show later, the family became worried, as well and telephoned the Lakerams to enquire of their whereabouts but the latter had no information.

The Dwarkas said they received several telephone calls from persons falsely claiming to know where the two could be found.

Meanwhile, on Monday, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) confirmed that Dwarka is employed there as a clerk but said Lakeram left its employ since July 14, last year.

The management and staff, though, were supportive of the safe return of both persons.