Yoga Day Violence: Police makes two more arrests

Maldives Police Service has made two more arrests in connection to the ongoing investigation of the mob attack on the event held at National Stadium on June 21, in celebration of World Yoga Day.

The authority revealed the identifications of the two arrested as Aboobakuru Faariu, 25 (Carnationmaage / N.Miladhoo) and Shabim Adam, 31 (Abaadheegulshan / F. Dharanboodhoo).

While the Criminal Court has ordered Faariu to be remanded for two months, Shabim was sentenced to only 10 days.

With this, the total number of arrests made in connection to the case has totaled 21.

The yoga day event, organized by the Indian Cultural Center and the Sports Ministry, had begun at 06:30 am on Tuesday, and was attended by dozens of participants, including foreign ambassadors and diplomats.

A mob of angry protestors stormed the stadium, threatened and assaulted some of the participants, and destroyed property. They were carrying flags containing verses from the Shahada.

Police said in an earlier statement the case was being investigated as a serious matter, and that preliminary investigative findings established that some of the items used by the mob had come from the office of PPM.