Hithadhoo gang-violence victim recovering, says family

Haveeru The young man who was beaten nearly to death in a fight between two rival gangs in Hithadhoo last Thursday is making a recovery, the family of the boy has said. Doctors had early proclaimed that the young man was not likely to recover.

However, the family also said that the 19-year-old Mohamed Mauman had still not regained consciousness. A representative from the family, Ahmed Mahir, said that Mauman had suffered severe injuries to his head and that doctors had said that blood was leaking into his brain. He further said that in addition to the critical head injuries, he had also suffered severe wounds to his chest and back and that one of his lungs had also been punctured.

“His condition was critical when he was brought here (to Malé),” he said. “His lungs weren’t functioning due to the injury. The injury was caused by the dagger which had been plunged
into his back. However, his lungs are now functioning normally. However, he still hasn’t regained consciousness but his condition is now better than when he was brought here from Addu. The treatment being given here is very good.”

Mahir further said that Mauman had been brought to Malé with assistance from the Government and that they were continuing to receive help from the Government during the stay at the hospital.

A family member earlier said that Mauman had been attacked when he was visiting a friend at the hospital who had been injured in a fight between street gangs, adding that Mauman was not part of any street gang and did not take part in street violence. Mauman had arrived in the island a few days back on holiday from working at a resort, the family member said.

“The injuries he had suffered to his head were caused by a sword and sharpened length of iron,” the family member said. “He had suffered severe injuries to his back too.”

The fight between the two rival gangs, armed with swords and blunt weapons, had occurred around 9:00pm on Thursday night and had continued until around 11:00pm, Police said. Officials from the Hithadhoo Police Station cited doctors as saying that Mauman had suffered severe head injuries due to the beating and that blood was leaking into his brain. Several others had also been treated at the hospital for injuries suffered during the violent confrontation.

According to a resident, the most violent clashes had occurred directly in front of the Hithadhoo Regional Hospital. Gang members had taken the fight into the hospital also, according to a resident. Haveeru