Deputy Mayor of Male’ City Council, Ahmed Nareesh, who is contesting in the parliamentary elections with a coalition ticket from the People's National Congress (PNC) and the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) for the Kolamaafushi Constituency, was attacked during his visit to Gaafu Alifu atoll Maamendhoo for the election campaign amidst an altercation.
Recounting the events of the attack to Mihaaru News, Nareesh said that he was targeted by two individuals while he was walking after his arrival on the island.
Nareesh said that he had asked the attackers who had paid them once they began approaching him, which resulted in the situation escalating into a heated argument.
The Deputy Mayor revealed that amid the altercation, he was struck twice on his back by two individuals who approached him from behind with their fists.
The campaign posted of candidate Sayyah covered in pink fabric.
He added that the altercation had further intensified with items such as metal rods being thrown around and said that the conflict was resolved by the police who arrived at the scene. Nareesh said that the two attackers has since been taken into police custody.
While Nareesh had claimed this recount of events, a resident of the island insisted that Nareesh was the first to initiate the attack, with the conflict escalating only after that point.
The opposition of the state maintains that Nareesh had attacked a youth engaged in campaign activities for the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) due to the covering of a campaign poster of MDP parliamentary candidate Sayyah Haleel at the harbor with a pink cloth.
Police disclosed that they had received the report of the attack on Nareesh amid campaign activities in Maamendhoo on Saturday afternoon at 1700 hrs.
Police further stated that the alleged perpetrator of the attack on Nareesh has been arrested, and investigations are ongoing.