Doctors have on Monday operated on Mohamed Evaan, who was severely injured and left in critical condition after being stabbed on Saturday night.

Evaan’s family attests that he had sustained several injuries, including a punctured lung, for which Monday’s surgery was carried out.

Mohamed Najeeb, the senior community health officer at the Hithadhoo Regional Hospital, said that 22-year-old Evaan also sustained injuries to his back, neck, and head.

“He is doing better after the surgery but is still being kept at the ICU”, a member of the family said.

The family claims Evaan was attacked by a group of 16 people while he was waiting to meet some friends. The attack was carried out near the mosque in Maradhoo-Feydhoo district of the southern Addu City. 

While police have not revealed any specific details, based off of the social networking profiles – on Facebook and Twitter – the attack is believed to be a result of gang-related violence.

Six individuals have been apprehended in relation to the attack, including a 17-year-old.