Police dismiss rumors of youth hanged to death in Addu

The Maldives Police Service (MPS) has dismissed reports circulating about a youth being found hanged to death in the southernmost Addu City.

A 19-year-old man was found hanging under the Gaukendi Causeway Bridge in Addu City on Saturday morning.

Several have been flooding social media platforms with questions regarding the youth’s death.

Some social media users have raised questions about the manner of the hanging, pointing out that the man's feet were touching the ground and that his body displayed signs of various injuries.

Several other allegations have surfaced that he was hanged and killed by a gang operating in the southernmost city.

In response to these concerns, the police have stated that the circulating reports are baseless and untrue. They also confirmed that they are investigating the matter thoroughly.

In response to rumors suggesting that the young man was a witness in a 2020 assault case in Maradhoo-Feydhoo, the police clarified that he was neither a witness in any case nor a suspect in any ongoing investigation.

However, the police have not addressed the allegations regarding the multiple injuries found on the man's body.

MPS has strongly condemned the spread of false information without any factual basis regarding the deceased.

Further investigations are currently underway in connection with the death.