Violence breaks out in Maamendhoo over campaigning

The ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) and opposition Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) candidates clashed during a campaign event for the upcoming parliamentary elections in G.A.Maamendhoo on Saturday.

The fight took place when Deputy Mayor of Male City Council Ahmed Naresh was also visiting the islands of the constituency to participate in a campaign event organised by PNC's candidate from Kolamaafushi constituency Ibrahim Didi.

Police said a case of an attack on Nareesh was reported this evening in the conflict. The case is being investigated, but no arrests have been made.

The allegations of attack on Nareesh have been denied by MDP supporters. Ahmed Waseem, a resident of Maamendhoo that was present there at the time told Atoll Times that Nareesh was the first to attack.

He said a delegation including Ibrahim Didi, Nareesh and FSM Deputy CEO came to Maamendhoo on Saturday for an Iftar organized by the PNC.

“What happened was that they couldn't handle the large poster of the MDP candidate in the harbor of this island when they came”, he said.

He said Nareesh attacked two youths from Maamendhoo during the unrest that broke out following their arrival.

"Nareesh grabbed one of them by the neck and pushed him away. He said they didn't need to be there, and that's how the violence began”.

Athif Adam, one of the injured, said that when he went to the harbor on Saturday afternoon he found the 40-foot poster of the MDP candidate covered with a pink cloth.

As such, he threw those questions at the PNC candidate when they arrived.

"I asked him if he was afraid [of the MDP candidate] because a curtain was drawn. When I said that, Nareesh came and pushed me and told me to get out of there," he said.

Another person who tried to stop it was also attacked, he said.

He said the fight was reported to the police, who came and took photographs of the injuries. He said the case would be continued after he received treatment at the health centre.

However, he said he had not received any information from the police since then.

Speaking to Atoll Times on Saturday evening, Nareesh denied the allegations made against him by opposition supporters.

"They were arguing even when we arrived in Maamendhoo. They were fighting over an MDP poster being covered at the port. The poster was put up early last night too, i heard," Nareesh said.

"They were fighting when we went there. Someone behind me hit me twice, and that made matters worse."

Nareesh said he had received news that police did arrest a man in the case and later released him.