Police refutes the rumors of police involvement in cutting down of areca nut trees

Police have refuted the rumors spread regarding involvement of police in cutting down of areca nut trees on Majeedhee magu.

Police media official said to Sun Online today that police were not aware and that police were not involved in this vandalism in any manner. He said that these rumors were spread to undermine police integrity and to build distrust towards police in the public.

Police media official said that police have not fallen to an extent of cutting down trees and palms in the country after leaving the essential work of providing and ensuring safety and protection to the public.

Eyewitnesses say that the act was carried out by a group of masked men with machetes.

Areca nut trees were cut down on Majeedee Magu on Wednesday and Thursday night.

A hundred thousand areca nut trees have been gifted to Maldives by the government of India. The trees on Majeedee Magu that have been cut down, were planted on 6 October 2011 by Male’ City Council. Areca nut trees have been cut down before as well, during times of political turmoil.