Second attack leaves Gemanafushi in shock

Last August, Lance corporal Ismail Shafeeg (Isse) was attacked while he was at Gemanafushi Police Station, while he was alone there. Although there was no major unrest, it was a day of distress for the people of Gemanafushi. Questions were raised regarding their safety, as the person who was supposed to protect them from danger was under attack.

Thereafter, Gemanafushi was ‘shocked’ again yesterday. A group attacked Isse and stabbed his stepbrothers Ahsan Abdulla, 24, and Ahmed Afsal, 19. After assaulting Isse, they stabbed Ahsan in the stomach and Afsal in the head.

“As soon as I received the news, I went to the house where I thought they were at. I asked the owner of the house, why are they assaulting Isse? The attackers heard me, and replied, ‘We are here’, and left the house and assaulted Isse’s two brothers who were walking on the street,” said a man who witnessed the incident.

He said that it was a frightening experience, something he had never experienced in his life before. “When they were stabbed, I, with the help of another person, took the two brothers to the hospital on two motorcycles,” he said. “When we got there, the door to the health centre closed. I opened the door myself. There was blood everywhere. By then people had gathered at the health centre; everyone was in shock!”

Another person from Gemanafushi said that the three brothers’ parents and family have been greatly affected and are in great fear.

“Their parents are in great distress and fear. A lot of the people on this island are very frightened and nervous,” he said.

He said that the brutal act of violence has left the about-1800 population of Gemanafushi in shock and fear. Children, women and the elderly are in psychological distress.

“Several people still hesitate to leave their homes,” he said.

Isse was attacked after he stopped Ahmed Naadhee Saleem of Noorussabah for questioning for riding his motorcycle beyond the speed limit. Saleem first disobeyed Isse, then assaulted him. Subsequent to this incident, Saleem along with his brother Niam Mohamed attacked Afsal and Ahsan using knives and wooden clubs.

“They came out of the house of another person, Aleemuddeen, whom the Police had arrested. When they ran into Afsal and Ahsan on the street, they attacked them and ran from the scene while people were watching. They suffered serious injuries. By then Isse had been taken to the health centre,” a witness told on the condition of anonymity.

According to some people, the attackers ran into the forest after attacking Isse and his brothers. People gathered in the area when Police later went and arrested them.