Captor in critical condition after foiled suicide attempt

The Maldivian man who was arrested and remanded for taking a woman hostage and assaulting her, is in critical condition after a foiled suicide attempt.

Adam Athuhar, 32, was arrested at the scene of the crime on the night of August 29.

The 32-year-old led his victim out onto the street and continued to assault her while holding a knife against her neck and threatened to kill her if authorities intervened. He then pulls her back inside the house and continues to assault her.

A video circulating on social media shows the man leading the woman outside again at knifepoint, instructing her to get on a motorcycle.

The man is seen threatening police officers again, before dragging her back inside and beating her. Then, the man and hostage come out and get on the motorcycle, where the woman is forced to ride off, with a knife pressed firmly against her throat.

The woman halts the motorcycle at the intersection, where officers are seen trying to make way by moving other vehicles and members of the public gathered at the scene, out of the way.

One of two officers on a motorcycle that approaches them from behind, is seen using force on the kidnapper in an attempt to rescue the woman. After being hit with a baton, the man drops to the ground, taking the woman with him. Chaos breaks out after this and officers are seen trying to gain control of the situation as a bystander helps the victim up.

The kidnapper was treated at Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) for “serious” injuries attained in the scuffle on August 30. MPS cited hospital officials having revealed that further tests were required to determine the extent of his injuries. After treatment, he was taken back to a custodial prison on Friday morning.

However, he was hospitalized after his condition worsened, later that day.

Athuhar was taken back into police custody after his condition became stable, the next morning.

On Sunday, the police stated that he had attempted suicide and was receiving treatment at IGMH as his condition had become serious.

Further details were not disclosed by the authorities.

According to the suspect’s family, they were being denied the information regarding his condition.

RaajjeMV understands that suspect attained serious injuries to his head.

Citing doctors, the family stated that Athuhar was on ventilator support and is believed to be “brain dead”.

Noting that further tests are being conducted, doctors are to have revealed that it can only be ascertained whether his brain is dead or not, after receiving test results.

The family also claimed that while the police claim he had attempted suicide, they did not offer any evidence.

Family members revealed that the suicide attempt was made by choking himself using the rubber from the pants he was wearing, which according to the family is “hard to believe”.

The suspect’s family has expressed concern over authorities withholding the information regarding his health from them.

RaajjeMV has been unable to attain a comment regarding the accusations pinned against the police institution by the family.

Several social media users have applauded the actions of police in detaining the man.

The victim also attained injuries in the scuffle and was treated at IGMH. Authorities have confirmed that she is safe and stable.

Further investigations are currently underway.