MALE, June 2, 2010 (HNS) – Some 80 suspects have been apprehended over the past three days in a special operation to curb gang violence in the capital Male, police have revealed on Wednesday.Some of them, however, have been released, police confirmed, but did not disclose the details.
A police media official said 30 people were arrested Monday evening, 40 Saturday, and another 15 the previous evening.
No one was arrested Tuesday as “gangs have been scattered” due to the crackdown, but police are on to the fighting, he added.
According to police several minors are among those taken into custody including a 14-year-old boy, who was arrested in connection with the stabbing in the flats area, with a knife in possession.
Three people have been injured in the latest series of fighting, with the most severe injury reported in the stabbing of a 14-year-old student of Imaaduddin School, reportedly mistaken by a gang for someone else, near Machangoalhi Buru.
“We are arresting anyone suspected [of involvement in gang violence]. When we arrest them, we always find some item [used for assault],” the official said.
The official revealed that the latest fighting string erupted with the stabbing of the 14-year-old student.
“After that, gangs attacked each other at Carnival area, near Athama Palace and outside [Maafannu] Stadium,” he added.
President Mohamed Nasheed has instructed Minister of Home Affairs Mohamed Shihab “to afford high priority and take every possible measure” to prevent gang violence. Following the order, police tore down a suspected “gang campout” at Galolhu Masodige, confiscating several items allegedly used for fighting.
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