Police Commissioner Mohamed Hameed has ordered the suspension of a Special Operations (SO) police officer who manhandled journalists covering the opposition leaders gathering in Republic Square in Male' on Thursday evening.
Police were trying to disperse journalists when one officer violently pushed them. Videos and photos of the incident have been circulating on social media and many people have condemned the police officer.
Police Commissioner Hameed told Adhadhu that the police officer had been suspended and the SO police department had been ordered to launch an investigation into the incident.
“In connection with the video of the journalist being pushed, the police officer has been removed from responsibilities and the Specialist Operations Unit has now been instructed to investigate the matter,” Hameed said.
Journalists covering protests have been injured due to police actions in the past, with the public and journalists unions condemning the targeting of journalists while in the line of duty.
