ACP Sujau: Violence at yoga event a result of mistakes by police, not because of lack of officers

Head of Central Policing Command, Assistant Commissioner of Police Ali Sujau has stated mob attack on the event held at National Stadium on last Tuesday, in celebration of International Day of Yoga, was a result of mistakes made by police teams sent to maintain the security at the event.

Speaking at a press conference held on Monday, Sujau said that police teams that were dispatched to the National Stadium on Tuesday morning included officers that had worked in special operations. Despite this, he stressed that the officers were not able to stop the mob attack due to how things had unfolded.

“Delays in reading the crowd’s behavior or mistakes in reading the crowd’s behavior by the officers at the scene had led to this,” he had said.

He added that he believed the police had failed in maintain the security at the event.

“What happened at the event was a result of security breach. I do admit that it is a failure of our security,” he had said.

Sujau said that relevant authorities were inquiring the reasons for this failure – adding that Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed has also ordered an investigation into it.

He went onto stated that the report of the investigation will be presented to the Executive Board on next Sunday, whereas the police will also be answerable to sub-committee of the cabinet formed for the purpose.

Stressing that protestors at the yoga event were given the opportunity to peacefully expressed their views – Sujau that that efforts were underway to identify how it had escalated to violence.

“In a circumstance where a crowd poses danger, we will switch regulations on the amount of force we will use,” he added.

Sujau said that police were informed of the yoga event ahead of time – following which they undertook preparations for security measures. However, he stressed not being disclosed who will be participating in the event ahead of time.

Head of Police Criminal Investigation Command, Assistant Commissioner of Police Mohamed Riyaz who also spoke at the press conference detailed that 21 arrests have been made so far in connection to the mob attack – whereas efforts seeking more suspects were still underway.

Riyaz also said that neither of the suspects had been arrested over religious statements made regarding yoga.

“We are investigating the violence that ensued at the event, acts of cruelty and acts of vandalism,” he stressed.

Riyaz said that when the yoga event was stormed – there were five foreign diplomats, ministerial level and other senior officials of the Maldivian government and members of the general public present at the stadium.

Many had criticized the police’s failure to stop the mob attack – stating officers were lacking in efforts to subdue the protesters. Some also allege that the protestors were able to enter the stadium because officers paved way for the opportunity.

Refuting these allegations, Sujau said that investigations so far show no indication of such from police officers.