Police order removal of banner linked to ‘India Out’ movement

Police have ordered the removal of an ‘In Dear Out’ banner hung outside a building in Male’ City, one of the banners with a play on ‘India Out’ which began popping up after the police removed the original banners last week.

Police served papers ordering the removal of an ‘In Dear Out’ banner hung outside Silver Wave, a private residence in Henveiru district, on Saturday evening.

The owner of the residence was instructed to “remove the banner that represents ‘India Out’ hung outside the building.”

However, the banner has yet to be removed.

‘India Out’ is a campaign led by the opposition to protest against Indian military presence in Maldives.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih issued a decree banning the ‘India Out’ movement on Thursday, after the National Security Council deemed the movement a threat to national security.

He said the movement put Maldives at risk of loss of peace and stability, huge economic and social burden, and isolation in the international arena.

Huge ‘India Out’ banners hung outside the residence of opposition leader, former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, and the PPM headquarters were removed by police the same day.