Police have requested the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL to issue a yellow alert to find a missing local man who disappeared while on a picnic at a sand bank near Huvafennfushi resort in Kaafu Atoll.
43-year-old Thasleem Ahmed was reported missing on the 30th of August around 13:20. Police had said that they launched the search operations as soon it was reported to them.
Police said they worked with the Maldives National Defence Force to search vast areas for the missing man and this includes underwater areas as well.
They said in a statement that Thasleem departed from Male' on the 29th of August between 17:00 and 17:30. Police said that he joined a group of 24 people and two children. Police said that the group had been planning to hold a party on the sandbank and they were there to set up for the party.
Police also said that Thasleem went with the group to work on the backdrop and lighting of the party.
They said when Thasleem and his party arrived on the sand bank, another group was already there. The victim was seen among his fellow travelers till midnight and there were photos of him sleeping in the tents set up by the group.
Police said Thasleem was last seen between 07:45 am and 09:00 am on the 30th of August.
They further said Thasleem had requested a ride back to Male' between 10:00 am and 11:00 am, and his fellow travelers could not find him when they tried to inform him of his impending departure. Police also said that his friends had called his family to check whether he went to Male' but when they informed them that he had not returned, the party began to search for Thasleem.
Police said that they have questioned all the individuals in Thasleem's group as well as another 12 individuals in another group.
They further said they are searching through Thasleem's phone and laptop and also searched two launches the group has used for traveling. Police stated they had visited the places Thasleem frequently visited in Male'.
They also said they have asked INTERPOL to issue a yellow alert. An INTERPOL yellow alert is usually issued to expand the search operations.
