Jun 29, 2005
Fiji police have asked its navy to help search for three teenage sisters feared kidnapped after a Sunday boating picnic.
The ethnic Indian women were taken on the trip to Malake island off the main island of Viti Levu's north coast by a family friend.
The 42-year-old friend, found alone in the dinghy the next day, has told the family and police he was knocked unconscious by three indigenous Fiji men who took the sisters away.
Police say Ashika Sherin Lata, 19, Renuka Roshni Lata, 18 and Radhika Roshni Lata, 17, were in open waters between Malake and the town of Rakiraki when the incident occurred.
The friend "was found alone in the boat and then he informed the family that he was assaulted by three Fijians", Constable Prashila Narayan told Radio New Zealand International.
"They came in another boat, they attacked him and then he was unconscious and the three girls were taken away from him."
The friend, who was questioned and released, has been helping the search.
Divisional Crime Officer Vijay Singh said obtaining the services of navy divers would help the search.
"Until then we are just searching around the island where they disappeared and hopefully try to get clues as to which direction they may have been heading," he told news website Fijilive.
'''June 29, 2005''' 

Three teen-aged sisters went missing on Sunday, June 26th, and Fijian police have called in navy divers to aid in the search.

Ashika Sherin Lata, 19, Renuka Roshni Lata, 18 and Radhika Roshni Lata, 17 were taken on a boat trip to Malake island near  by a family friend. The friend "was found alone in the boat and then he informed the family that he was assaulted by three Fijians", Constable Prashila Narayan told Radio New Zealand International.

Divisional Crime Officer Vijay Singh reported additional officers have been called in on the case, but told Fijilive that the navy divers were necessary for the case.

"Until the navy divers come in we are just searching around the island where they disappeared and hopefully try and get clues as to which direction they may have been heading."