Police release all but 33 individuals arrested following 8 February violence

Out of the people arrested on the 8th of this month for committing acts of violence including arson, all but 33 are released from custody, says the Maldives Police Service.

A Police Media Official told media that those arrested would be released as soon as requirements of investigation are fulfilled. He said that the 33 individuals now in custody include 5 arrested in Laamu Atoll, and 28 arrested in Addu City.

Police also said that some of the people have been released under court orders.

More than 100 persons were arrested in Addu City alone, after former President Nasheed’s party activists carried out unsurpassed violence, including burning of courthouses and police stations, when Nasheed resigned from office on the 7th of this month.

Arrested individuals include some of the Council Members of a number of islands as well.

The Maldives Police Service has stated that the cost of damaged property belonging to the Police alone totaled some 112 million in local currency, Rufiyaa.

MDP leader Nasheed was forced to resign from office, when the Maldives Police Service and the Maldives National Defence Force refused to carry out Nasheed’s unconstitutional and unlawful orders and demanded a guarantee from the government that they would not be subjected to any illegal orders in the future. Nasheed chose to resign, instead of giving that guarantee. However, within 24 hours of his resignation, Nasheed claimed that he was “forced to resign at gunpoint”, and his party activists took to the streets and perpetrated acts of violence in Addu City, Thinadhoo, Fuvammulah, and a number of other islands of the Maldives and Malé the capital.