Barricades hidden by Mal

Police have used a court warrant to seize several barricades hidden by Malé City Council in Thaisey koshi.

Police entered the area at around 23:30 last night, showed the warrant to an official in the area, and seized about eleven barricades from a warehouse. They were taken to the Police tow yard.

The barricades are used by Police to block roads during protests.

Police said that a court warrant was requested after receiving information that the barricades were being kept in that area.

Malé City Council Mayor Maizan Ali Manik said that the barricades had to be removed because they were an obstruction to pedestrians, and that Malé City Council was not aware of whom the barricades belonged to.

He added that they were not stolen, and that they were re moved in the presence of witnesses. He said that private individuals’ items removed in this manner are returned to them when requested for by their owners, and that a court warrant is not necessary.

The Mayor noted that if the barricades continue to obstruct pedestrians, they will be removed.