Police dispersed journalists and citizens with pepper spray at the opposition rally on Thursday night, which carried on to the early hours of Friday.

While Thinadhoo MP Abdulla Ahmed was giving a press interview, officers stormed Jumhoree Party (JP)’s campaign site and pepper sprayed everyone inside directly in the face.

While the incident was being aired on live TV, RaajjeTV journalist Abdulla Naseer was also hit with the spray and had to be taken to hospital due to breathing difficulties.

Many others were also taken to hospital, and a police team had again stormed inside while Maduvvari MP Mohamed Ameeth was being interviewed, and taken out the journalists.

Police at Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s campaign site near Artificial Beach had also used undue force to disperse protesters.

This is similar to the previous Friday night rally, in which officers had assaulted protesters, and RaajjeTV journalist Hussain Hassan was injured so badly that he had to leave for Sri Lanka for further treatment.