Violent altercations in Male’ attributed to gang war

The police have attributed the recent string of violent altercations in the capital, Male’, to a war between rival gangs.

The chief police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police Ahmed Shifan, told Sun on Sunday night that the recent fights took place between two criminal groups.

He said that the police were investigating the case, and were also implementing measures to ensure no further violence breaks out.

Three violent altercations took place in Male’ City, and in suburban Hulhumale’, within the span of 24 hours.

The first altercation took place outside the convention center, Dharubaaruge, located in one of the capital’s busiest roads, Ameenee Magu, at around 10:30 pm on Saturday.

The incident resulted in injuries to one person, who was treated at the nearby Senahiya Hospital.

The police made four arrests in the case.

The four suspects, identified only as Maldivian males, were remanded in jail pending the outcome of their trial by the Criminal Court on Sunday.

The second incident was reported from the Filigas Magu in Hulhumale’, at around 04:07 am on Sunday.

It injured one person, and also a police officer who attended to the scene – who the suspected assailant hit with a car, before fleeing the scene on the vehicle with a second suspect.

The police said in an earlier statement that they arrested one of the suspects, and were on the hunt for the other.

Both the assault victim and the police officer were treated at the Hulhumale’ Hospital, and later discharged.

The third incident took place outside the Masjid Al-Shaheed Ali, in the Henveiru district of Male’ City, at around 12:45 pm on Sunday.

Two people were injured in the incident, and were taken to the Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

A spokesperson from IGMH told Sun on Monday that one of the individuals were discharged after treatment, while the other had been moved to a ward.

They were identified simply as “Maldivian males.”

Statistics released by the police show the authorities have received reports of over 300 cases of assault, so far this year.

Cracking down on gang crime is one of the key areas of focus in the police strategic action plan for the next five years, which was launched earlier this month.

In his first press conference in December, Commissioner of Police Ali Shujau said the police would especially focus on reducing the number of youths who get recruited to criminal gangs.