Police to use a special

Police have said that the ongoing opposition protest rallies are not peaceful and would use a special “force” to disband the protestors starting this Saturday.

Speaking at press conference at Iskandharu Koshi today, Superintendent of Police Abdulla Navaaz said that the people are being arrested for attempting and committing crimes in the protest rallies. And the protests cannot be called peaceful rallies since the protests calls for assault on police and due to the attacks on police.

Navaaz said that since the ongoing serial protests are “not at all” peaceful protests, starting Saturday, the police would disband the protests the moment police is informed of acts outside the law.

“Due to the unlawful acts in the protest rallies, we cannot call them peaceful protests and so the police have decided to take specific steps. Starting from Saturday, if any unlawful act takes place in the protests, or if the police receive information of any plans to commit crimes, the protestors would be disbanded after a warning.” Navaaz said.

The Superintendent said that some new media outlets are corrupting the nation and calling for conflict and it’s not responsible that the related institutes are not taking preventive measures.

Superintendent Navaaz said that the media worked professionally, they would not obstruct police work but journalists are committing crimes in the protests and the police will take steps accordingly.

“The Maldives Police Services also recognize the irresponsibility of the established entities in the country for media laws, not taking any steps and in the name of free press, continuing support for conflict within the nation and falsifying the truth when media personnel are arrested by the police.” Navaaz said.

Noting that the police are operating within the law, Navaaz said that if the use of force by police is questionable, there are institutes established to investigate such cases.

Talking about the strength of the police, the Superintendent said that the police would not stand for criminals or the people attempting to commit a crime.