Saeed ends 35-hour hunger strike after personal assurance from PG and home minister

Mohamed Saeed, a resident of Male’, ended his 35-hour-long hunger strike at the Henveiru Police Station on Sunday, following personal assurances from both Home Minister Ali Ihusan and Prosecutor General Abbas Shareef that they would resolve the case involving an alleged drug addict who he said has engaged in constant public nuisance at his neighborhood for the past one-and-a-half years.

Saeed launched his hunger strike on Sunday, demanding intervention from authorities over an alleged drug addict who he said had been a constant public nuisance on Kashimaa Hingun and Dhoohimeri Magu for the past one-and-a-half years, affecting his family, the neighborhood, and everyone who uses the roads.

He said that they reported it to the authorities on multiple occasions, but failed to get any justice.

The police arrested the suspect around 10 hours into the hunger strike.

But despite the arrest, Saeed said he planned on continuing his hunger strike unless the authorities come and explained to his family what will happen to the suspect.

But on Sunday, Saeed announced he had decided to end his hunger strike after 35 hours.

He said he was grateful the authorities had given their assurance of support going forward.

He also told reporters that both Ihusan and Abbas had personally given their word on the matter.

“I will be following up to see these commitments carried through,” he added.

“My heartfelt thanks to my family and extended family, who stood firmly behind me throughout. I am also deeply thankful to the media and social media teams, whose support helped raise awareness of this issue far and wide. I would also like to thank my MP, Ismail Nizar, for staying by my side all. Thank you all for the endless support.”

According to Saeed, the suspect in the case routinely shouted obscenities at pedestrians, used bicycles and road-closure boards to obstruct traffic, threw garbage at homes, and splashed oil and water from balconies onto people below. He also allegedly struck passers-by with plastic bottles, created loud disturbances from midnight until dawn, and entered residential buildings without permission.

When asked about the case, police said on Saturday that the accused has a family connection to Saeed, and that legal action has been taken each time a complaint was filed. They said the man had recently been remanded, but resumed disruptive behavior upon release. Police noted that while they receive numerous nuisance reports involving him, but said that it was not possible to keep someone in police custody indefinitely.

Saeed said his demand was simple: safety for his family and for everyone who walks, rides, or drives on the affected roads. He said ensuring public safety was the duty of institutions, and he was asking them to fulfill that duty.