Police rally at SH. Funadhoo after Councils refused to comply with Home Ministry

A police force has rallied at SH. Funadhoo, after the SH. Atoll Council refused to comply with a request of the Ministry of Home Affairs to handover all the inventory items at SH. Atoll Office and the Atoll Council Office to the Ministry.

It has been reported that a police force numbering 25 men went to Funadhoo from Malé today at noon, and that they ordered the closure of SH. Atoll Council and Funadhoo Island Council Offices at 2:30 pm. The reports also say that the police are currently holding discussions with members of the Councils.

Musa Fathi, President of SH. Atoll Council, said today that he did not know why the police came to Funadhoo with riot gears. However, he said that the Councils had received orders from Police to attend a meeting at 2:30 pm.

“We do not know why the police have come here. However, as I came out of the Masjid after saying Friday Prayers, I received a call from Funadhoo Police Station, telling me that they wanted to meet members of the Atoll Council and Funadhoo Island Council”, said Fathi, who belongs to the Divehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), the main opposition.

When asked about the incident, Police Media Official said that the police force “may have gone there for training purposes”.

When DRP members obtained all the seats at SH. Atoll Council in the local council elections early this year, the Atoll Council shifted atoll capital from Milandhoo to Funadhoo. In the ensuing dispute, the Ministry of Home Affairs sent police to Funadhoo and tried to take control of the Atoll Council Office. In the dispute, there were confrontations between the police and civilians at Funadhoo as well.