MDP Led Demonstrations Turned into Riot Last Night

Maldivian Democratic Party led demonstrations in the Streets of Male’ City last night turned violent and created havoc. The demonstrations since its beginning on Saturday July 7 coinciding with the arrival of American Ambassador to the Maldives Patricia Butenis rallied in pockets across the Male’ City.

Last night’s demonstrations turned into riot and began attacking police seriously injuring at least 9 law enforcers while a group of MDP activists brutally beating other security personnel and hitting his head has sent the officer into a retrograde amnesia.

The atrocity against the police continued until police announced “zero tolerance” when the riot went loose throwing glass pebbles and heavy lead balls showing unwillingness to respect differences even after police repeatedly advised to disperse the rally at midnight.

During the attempts to disperse the lawless crowd, police apprehended 55 disobedient activists but later released 10. The remaining 45 at the police remand include three women. The apprehended were taken by police were due to crossing police barricades set for security reasons and obstructing police on duty including arrogant attitudes that caused harm to bystanders and commoners as well.

The demonstrators threw chili infused water and pave stones damaging the pavements and injuring one more police officer.

The main central junction of the Chandhanee magu and Majeedhee magu cross roads, police media personnel at the scene were attacked by the demonstrators.

Just after police dispersed the violent riot MDP activists deliberately created from the demonstration, in what they called ‘MDP Direct Action’ activists spread across Male’ city in pockets. One group dislodging from the dispersed crowd went to the main beach road near the fish market and threw a 45 year old man over the waterfront quay wall in to the harbor after they beat him. Police at the scene saved the man and took him to the hospital for treatment for injury to his head due to the attack.

In another part of Male’ City another police on patrol near the old Machchangolhi cemetery on Dhilbahaaru magu was attacked while another officer patrolling was attacked near a coffee shop in Maaveyo magu was attacked.

The mob went on savaging the Male’ City streets attacked another police officer and damaged his police motor bike near Masjid-Al-Zikra, a mosque in Majeedhee magu close to the junction. The mob also throwing pave stones to a police vehicle broke its window panes near the Le’cute’ shop, few yards east to the central junction on Majeedhee magu scorched another motor bike.

The throwing of pave stones broke window panes of two shops while another group of activists attacking police officers on duty snatched seven mobile-radio sets and fled from the scene.