Police: 3 injured in prison raid, 1 injured himself

Police state three inmates were injured in the joint operation by security forces in prisons on Saturday, conducted in connection to the IED attack on Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed last May and the ongoing crackdown on religious extremism.

The joint operation by Maldives Police Service, Maldives National Defense Force, and Maldives Correctional Service began at Male’ Prison and Maafushi Prison at 05:30 am.

Police denied rumors they used tasers against inmates, but said they used pepper spray against two inmates who showed resistance – who were given medical first aid.

Police said the third injured in the operation was an inmate at Maafushi Prison who injured himself by deliberately hitting his head against a cement bench while hand shackled for showing resistance.

He has been transported to Male’ City for treatment.

Police said that no other inmates sustained injuries in the operation.

Police also seized a large quantity of contraband in their raid on prison cells; including one phone with a SIM card from Male’ Prison, and 43 phones with SIM cards from Maafushi Prison.

The case is under further investigation by the police.