Maldives Police Service (MPS) has released six suspects that were arrested in relation to the violent disruption of the World Yoga Day event held at the National Stadium on June 21.
MPS stated that the suspects were arrested in accordance with the legal procedures and that the investigation will continue despite their release. MPS arrested a total of 21 individuals over the incident, which include some politicians and religious scholars.
The International Yoga Day event was held on June 21 at the National Stadium with Minister of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment Ahmed Mahloof, Indian High Commissioner to the Maldives Munu Mahawar, and foreign diplomats in attendance. The violent disruption occurred after several individuals gathered nearby to protest the event and later broke through the police barricades and entered the stadium.
The Serious and Organised Crime Department of the Crime Investigation Command of the MPS is investigating the incident. MPS stated that the perpetrators had sought to incite fear by forcefully entering, destroying property, and attempting to assault participants of the event.