Yoga Day Violence: PPM Council member Mohamed Ismail's remand extended

The Criminal Court has extended the remand period by nine days for Councill member of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and former Parliamentarian Mohamed Ismail who has been arrested in connection with the mob attack on the event held at National Stadium on June 21, in celebration of World Yoga Day.

However, the Criminal Court granted conditional release to Ibrahim Razzan, also a council member of PPM, who was arrested alongside Mohamed Ismail.

However, it is unclear which conditions were set by the court.

Previously, the court remanded both for a period of five days.

Following their arrest, PPM had issued a statement claiming that their council members were being framed.

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.

A total of 21 arrests were made in connection to this case.