CP: Police officer injured hand in last week’s hostage rescue operation

A police officer involved in rescuing a woman who was held hostage at knifepoint last week sustained a serious injury to his hand during the mission, says Commissioner of Police Ali Shujau.

Shujau made the comment while addressing a gathering held on Sunday morning to mark the Police Service Day.

The high-stakes rescue operation took place in the Maafannu district of Male’ City on Thursday after Ahmed Athuhar, 32, held a woman hostage at knife-point and attempted to evade arrest.

Shujau said that the police officer sustained the injury while trying to prevent any harm from coming to the suspect as he fell from a motorcycle while holding a knife.

“The police officer sustained this injury when attempting to save the suspect from the sharp-edged weapon he was holding as he fell to the ground from the motorcycle during the operation conducted on Thursday evening to rescue a civilian. This is not something that was reported by any media. The injury he sustained to his fingers is something that saved the suspect from a serious injury,” he said.

He did not provide any further details regarding the injury.

The police had not previously disclosed any information by any injury to a police officer involved in the operation.

The police said on Thursday that Athuhar beat the young woman after dragging her inside a house in the Maafannu district of Male’, and also after dragging her out on the street.

When confronted by the police, Athuhar pressed a knife against the woman’s throat and threatened to kill her if they made any move to rescue her.

He later dragged her out of the house where he had been holding her hostage and made her drive a motorbike with a knife pressed against her throat in an attempt to flee.

The police allowed him to leave, but placed motorbikes on the road to block his path. While distracted as the police removed the roadblocks they place, officers came up behind him and hit his head with a baton, and rescued the woman.

Athuhar was treated for his injuries at the ADK Hospital on Thursday, and was readmitted to the Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) on Friday after he began vomiting. He was held under observation later discharged on Saturday, following which he was taken back into police custody.

A police spokesperson said on Saturday that medical tests done on Athuhar, including a CT scan, all came back “normal.” He added that Athuhar was also taken to a psychiatrist and a neurologist, who found no issues.

No doctor has recommended that he be treated at the ICU, added the spokesperson.

According to sources, Athuhar and the victim had been in a live-in relationship. They lived in a rented apartment in the neighborhood. On the night of the incident, the couple argued over his lack of contribution to rent and other expenses. The argument soon escalated into violence.

The young woman was treated for her injuries at the IGMH, and was discharged the same night.

Athuhar is jailed pending the outcome of his trial.