Violent DRP supporters attack Police as Maumoon taken for questioning

jazeera

Violent supporters of Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) have attacked and injured Police officers as they attempted to disperse the DRP supporters gathered near M. Alivaage last night.

Police Superintendent Ahmed Areef was beaten up inside Alivaage, the residence of ex-President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. He went inside the house all alone to negotiate to take Maumoon Abdul Gayoom to Police station in full protection of Police.

Ex- President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was taken in to police headquarters for questioning relating to a refusal to accept a summons to present himself to police. He went to Police Headquarters at about 8:15 in the state car with Police escort. According to media reports, Maumoon was asked why he refused to accept the summon of the Presidential Commission and Maumoon said that the Commission was illegal. Maumoon’s son, Farish Maumoon also said that Maumoon voluntarily decided to go to Police station for public harmony or otherwise it may cause injury to his supporters.

Superintendent of Police Ahmed Areef spoke to state TV, TVM last night about how he was attacked while he was inside Alivaage.

“…DRP MP Ali Waheed was speaking in a very heated up manner when they attacked me. They didn’t care about where I was hit. All of them just “jumped” onto me. I was hit on the head etc. You can’t even imagine how I was beaten up. But with the blessings of Allah, no injuries are visible although I still feel the pain. I am on the way to hospital… Some close friends of mine and DRP Parliamentarians were also inside the place when they attacked me… It is really disappointing that everyone was done to me while so many friends of mine were there…” Areef said.

A gas mask worn by a police officer was seen which the Police officer’s blood was spilled on the mask’s eye piece. A DRP supporter reportedly attacked the Police officer on the face with a concrete block.

When police used tear gas to disperse the crowd after numerous warnings, DRP supporters threw concrete blocks, other materials and even bicycles at Police. Fire balls were also thrown by DRP supporters.