Maldives Police Service (MPS) has said that 15 individuals were arrested on Wednesday, for obstructing police’s attempts to halt opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s primary election.

Police said that all were arrested from the outlying islands, adding that they were arrested for allegedly going against police’s orders and creating violence.

Police’s attempts to halt MDP’s primary had led to violence and chaos in some islands.

Police officers started removing ballot boxes after Civil Court issued a temporary order on Wednesday, to stop the primary election which was held that day. The ruling, signed by the Court’s Chief Judge Ali Abdulla, ordered MDP not to allow former President Mohamed Nasheed to run in its primary, and to immediately cease such an election. It further ordered all relevant institutions to stop the primary, if Nasheed is allowed to contest.

The Court order was issued after Attorney General Mohamed Anil’s request. Prior to that, the Elections Commission had asked all relevant institutions, including the police and home ministry, to not allow the party to hold its primary election, if Nasheed is allowed to contest.

Despite their attempts to stop the election, MDP said that 44011 members took part in the vote and that 43922 voted in favor. Nasheed is the only one to have contested in MDP’s primary.