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Friday 19 Apr 2024
LOCAL EDITION
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LOCAL EDITION
Al-Sheikh Fazloon bin Mohamed.
Police have made additional arrests in connection to the mob attack on the Yoga Day event at the national football stadium on Tuesday, including Al-Sheikh Fazloon bin Mohamed and former Hoarafushi MP Mohamed Ismail.
The event, organized by the Indian Cultural Center and the Sports Ministry, had begun at 06:30 am on Tuesday, and was attended by dozens of participants, including foreign ambassadors and diplomats.
A mob of angry protestors had stormed the stadium, and threatened and assaulted some of the participants, and destroyed property.
Police arrested four suspects in connection to the case on Wednesday. They are; Fazloon, Mohamed Ismail, Al-Sheikh Adam Nishan bin Ali Adam, and PPM activist Mohamed Razzan.
Six suspects were arrested in connection to the case on Tuesday. They are:
They were presented before the Criminal Court for their remand hearing on Wednesday morning.
Mohamed Nadheem, Mohamed Mausoom, Mohamed Hussain and Ameen Ahmed were remanded in custody of police for 60 days, while Mohamed Zilyan and Shaamy Rasheed Idrees were remanded in custody of police for five days.
The mob attack on the yoga event is under investigation by the Serious and Organized Department.
Police said in an earlier statement the case was being investigated as a serious matter, and that preliminary investigative findings established that some of the items used by the mob had come from the office of PPM.
In a TV interview following the incident, Sports Minister Ahmed Mahloof said Maldives began celebrating the International Day of Yoga during the administration of former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom – the leader of PPM. He alleged the disruption of the event was politically motivated, and accused both PPM and Jamiyyath Salaf of involvement in the incident.
Both PPM and Salaf have issued statements denying involvement.
