Protesters attack International Yoga Day event, 6 arrested

Protesters have disrupted a yoga event organized by the Indian High Commission, in the capital Male' City on Tuesday morning.

The event was held in celebration of the International Yoga Day, marked on 21st of June every year.

The yoga event was being held at the National Football Stadium, in Male' City with nearly 150 participants. They include diplomats and government officers, as well as many local and foreign fitness enthusiasts. As such the High Commissioner of India to Maldives and the Bangladeshi High Commissioner to Maldives were also in attendance , so were some senior government officials.

Protestors literally ran into the stadium while the event was going on, and demanded the event be stopped and participants to leave the place. The protestors also physically attacked some people and vandalized properties. According to the organizers, some participants were even injured by the attacks.

Many of the protestors were also seen storming in and pulling out the Maldivian National Flags, hoisted at the stadium.

Police were soon called-in, who responded with anti-riot measures and later used pepper spray and tear gas to control the crowd and secure the area.

MPS later disclosed that six Maldivian men have been arrested in connection with the incident and assured that the institution will be conducting further investigations in relations with the incident, to determine their motive.

Earlier, the protesters brandished placards proclaiming that yoga was against the tenets of Islam.

Some sources report that, members of the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) were also seen among the protestors. The sound system and the white flags carried by the protesters were also reported to be provided by PPM.