A man arrested during the opposition rally on Friday night is currently in critical condition after suffering a heart attack.
The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail identified the man as the party's Vice President for Hulhumale' Central constituency Mohamed Raslan.
"His condition is very serious," Fayyaz told Adhadhu, citing doctors at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).
Some eyewitnesses had seen police beating Raslan and using pepper spray directly at his face at close range.
Another protester is also being treated at the IGMH for breathing difficulties.
Police using pepper spray at close range. -- Photo: Mirash Nashim/ Adhadhu
More than 2,500 people gathered in Male's Artificial Beach for the rally, which began at 9:00 pm on October 3. Organizers had planned to march through Male'.
After a few brief addresses and five demands to President Mohamed Muizzu, rally participants began marching through the main road in the capital city.
But police put up barricades on Majeedhee Magu and used pepper spray indiscriminately and without warning against the peaceful demonstrators.
They also used a sonic weapon to disperse the crowd despite the protest being centered in a densely populated prime residential area in Male'.
MDP officially ended the protest at 12:00 am. But some rally participants marched through Male' much later into the night.
The party said the rally was suspended after police used the sonic weapon device to cause inconvenience to the public.
