Maldives Police Service (MPS) has launched an investigation into a case of littering the streets of Male’ City with writings and posters containing messages of the “India Out” campaign.
MPS said four individuals have been identified in the investigation as perpetrators of the act. However, MPS said no arrests have been made yet.
In a presidential decree issued on April 21, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ordered all relevant state authorities to stop the opposition’s India Out campaign activities, calling it a threat to national security. In the decree, President Solih said that the India Out campaign activities use the right to freedom of expression and gathering to take away the peace and security in the country and undermine the longstanding friendly relations with India. He accused the campaign organisers of purposely attempting to compromise international efforts to maintain peace in the region.
Following the presidential decree, Maldives Police Service (MPS) has been confiscating banners related to the India Out campaign in the Greater Male’ Region. This includes multiple banners from the house of the opposition leader and former President Abdulla Yameen.