Police Make Additional Arrest in Hulhumale' Gang Attack Case

In a post on X, the chief police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police Ahmed Shifan, announced that authorities had arrested a 23-year-old Maldivian male at 12:04 am on Wednesday. This marks the second arrest related to the case.

The first arrest was made on July 18, involving a 22-year-old Maldivian male, who has since been remanded in police custody pending the outcome of his trial.

The attack drew significant public attention following a post on the social media platform X, which included graphic pictures of Nazeef's injuries. The images revealed severe injuries to the back of his head and additional wounds to his face, purportedly inflicted by a criminal gang.

Despite the public outcry, the police have released limited details about the case. In a TV interview on July 8, Superintendent of Police Arif highlighted that there are currently eight highly active criminal gangs in the Maldivian capital, predominantly composed of members aged 12-13 years.

In response to the escalating gang violence, the police recently established a dedicated gang crime enforcement unit. This initiative is part of a new strategic action plan set to be implemented over the next four years. Last month, Home Minister Ali Ihusan outlined the plan, which identifies 10 key priority areas for crime-focused policing, with the top priority being the eradication of organized crime.

“Our goal isn’t to reduce the 10 gangs operating in Maldives to three by the end of five years. Our goal is to erase all 10 gangs,” Ihusan stated. He emphasized the administration's commitment to a policy of “zero tolerance” and “non-acceptance.”

The Home Minister also revealed that authorities have identified approximately 400 juveniles across the country with links to criminal gangs, who require immediate intervention.