Indian blows whistle on kidnap groups

An Indian national said yesterday that he is now willing to cooperate with authorities on the alleged kidnapping activities of a certain group in Metro Manila.

Danny Devnani, 44, who went into hiding after receiving death threats, said “his knowledge about alleged kidnapping activities of a certain group several years ago” has endangered his life.

“I think it was about the kidnappings, they’re angry with me,” a source quoted Devnani as saying when contacted to check his whereabouts.

Text messages circulated last week stated that the Indian national was “ambushed and killed.”

Devnani reported that five days ago, he received a death threat from a caller who said that his “days are numbered and you will be killed like Edgar Bentain and Salvador ‘Bubby’ Dacer, before Estrada’s birthday on April 19.”

He said he received the same kind of death threat in 2003.

“I will cooperate now, I am really mad with what is happening… I’ve been very much disturbed,” the source quoted Devnani saying.

The Indian national made headlines after he testified at a Senate inquiry on certain groups allegedly engaged in kidnapping, operating illegal numbers games, and trading in illegal drugs.

On Sept. 2, 2003, Devnani and his driver, Jorge Sanchez, 36, were cruising along President Diosdado Macapagal Avenue in a rented Toyota Corolla XL (KAB-897) at 9:15 p.m. when gunmen in a black van fired seven shots at them, hitting the right car window.

The men, armed with long firearms, escaped, leaving Devnani and Sanchez unhurt. They are now the objects of a manhunt. – Cecille Suerte Felipe