Grootvlei resident survives kidnapping ordeal

Local shop owner Lokman Bhuiyan (40) and Grooitvlei resident was kidnapped and held captive on a farm in Endicott outside Springs for 10 excruciating days before police stepped in to save the day.

Bhuiyan was taken from his family on January 9 and, thanks to the help of both local and international law enforcement agencies, returned home on January 19.

Eight men were arrested with two of the arrests taking place in Pakistan.

The six men who were arrested on South African soil are set to appear in the Balfour Magistrates Court tomorrow (February 21).

Friends and family of Bhuiyan confirmed that they would be attending the bail application of the accused. A significant turnout is expected at the otherwise low-key court.

These residents have indicated that they would be devastated if the accused were to be released.

10 Days of Torment

While still sporting both physical and emotional scars following the kidnapping, Bhuiyan said that he is grateful to be alive.

“I had just closed my shop in Grootvlei, it must have been 18:30. I was on my way home when another car forced me off the road. There were four men in the car and two of them had guns,” Bhuiyan explained.

 

With pistols pointed at his head Bhuiyan thought he was being hijacked, but he soon came to realise that the men wanted more.

The kidnappers demanded R4-million from his family in Bangladesh for his release.

“I really thought they were going to kill me. I kept thinking of my wife and my two children and that I would never see them again,” Bhuiyan explained.

 

While negotiations with the kidnappers continued, his feet were bound, he was beaten and he was fed stale bread.

Bhuiyan said that he was struck numerous times as his captors grew impatient.

His family eventually paid a part of his ransom before police officials stepped in.

According to Detective Warrant Officer Louis Martin of Grootvlei SAPS, officials are in the process of recovering some of the ransom money that was paid.

Martin, a local lawman who worked day-and-night to help facilitate the release, indicated that his search started in the Free State town of Petrus Steyn where Bhuiyan had previously lived and later information led the team to the Marble Hall, Groblersdal area before they finally tracked him down between Springs and Nigel.

“The expression on his face when he saw me was priceless. He looked like he was going to kiss me,” Martin quipped.

 

Bhuiyan and his family expressed their gratitude towards Martin and the other officials who helped to rescue him.
In the meantime it has become evident that the kidnapping of business owners in South Africa has become a trend with some reports indicating that at least three of these crimes are reported each month.

Police have cautioned that these kidnappings are well planned by syndicates that do extensive research on the routines of their victims before engaging.

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