Police entry into MNBC on 7 February was legal: PIC

Police Integrity Commission (PIC) has said that the Police entered Maldives National Broadcasting Commission (MNBC) on 7 February 2012 in accordance with the Police Act.

The report publicised by the PIC after its investigation of the events of 6 and 7 February states that the Police entered MNBC on 6 February subsequent to receiving information that violence had broken out inside the building, and also as per the commands of a senior officer.

The report states that the Police were confronted by a crowd gathered outside the building, and that there was reason to believe that the people inside the building could also attack the Police upon entry.

“Tear gas was used when the crowd confronted the Police during their second attempt to enter the building. The tear gas was fired through a hole in the gate using a riot gun, a weapon permitted for use by the Police. Tear gas had to be sprayed into the building because the people inside could attack the Police upon entry. Investigations have also revealed that the people inside MNBC were armed with sticks and other weapons,” says the report.

When they entered the building, the Police checked if any of the persons inside was not an employee of MNBC, and left as soon as these checks were complete. The report notes that the Police did not injure anyone in this process; however, their actions had been harsher than necessary.

PIC had concluded in their report that the Police’s entry into MNBC was within the limits of articles 2 and 4 of the Police Act.