Police have released all but two individuals it had arrested from yesterday's protests organized by the Opposition Coalition in Male'.
Police said that it released 23 out of the 25 arrested yesterday and that the 23 were released after being fined for disobeying the guidelines set by the Health Protection Agency HPA to deter the on-going COVID-19 pandemic.
It said both the individuals remaining under police custody had attacked police officers during scuffles at the protest yesterday.
The opposition coalition had protested yesterday under the banner of 'India Military Out' with police using several tactics to disperse the protest early on.
This includes closing down the PPM head office which is a rallying point for opposition protesters as well as closing down all roads that would lead to the office.
The opposition coalition has been holding a series of weekend protests in the Male' under different banners including the awarding of housing units under the Hiya Housing scheme as all as decrying the unequal campaign opportunities ahead of the Local Council Elections next month.
Police had said before that it would not give the opportunity to disrupt the country's harmony as it continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and that it would work to implement the precautionary measures taken by HPA to quell the rampant infection, especially in the Greater Male' Area.
HPA had imposed a curfew in the area as well as a vehicle ban and had banned public gatherings of more than 5 people in the capital.
