The Westmoreland police say they have no evidence to substantiate rumours that four HIV/AIDS-stricken men are kidnapping students from a number of schools.

“The Westmoreland Police Division wishes to advise the public that despite recent rumours of children being abducted from several schools within the parish, police investigators have not confirmed these claims,” a statement issued by the police last weekend noted.

Nevertheless, the statement noted that the police have increased patrols “particularly in the school zones and other areas” and recommended that students not accept rides from strangers, or take robot taxis, among a raft of other suggestions.

The current rumours recall former years when students had to be constantly on the lookout for ‘Blackheart men’, who were allegedy abducting children.

In the meantime, the Bethel Town All Age school was dismissed an hour earlier than its normal 3:00 pm Tuesday after it was rumoured that a young female in that community foiled an attempt to abduct her by stabbing one of her would -be abductors with a knife.

The news, however, broke that the girl was allegedly chopped by the men.

But the Bethel Town police said they could not substantiate these claims. Nor could the Bethel Town Health Clinic, where it was claimed the girl was treated.

After the alarm was raised, however, parents and other citizens, some armed with machetes and stones, lingered on the compound of the Bethel Town All Age School, with the intent to apprehend the hijackers.

Last week, classes were suspended at the Georges Plain Primary School in Westmoreland after panic-stricken parents collected their children and rushed home, following news that four men travelling in a motor car attempted to abduct a seventh grader from the community.