Maldives Police Service (MPS) has arrested a group of individuals for protesting in Villingili island of Gaaf Alif atoll, as Speaker of Parliament, former President Mohamed Nasheed was set to arrive in the island.

A group of locals had entered an area cordoned off by the police for safety reasons on Wednesday night and used megaphones to protest in the region.

Said locals were arrested as they had entered and protested in the area without the required authorization from the island council

The group was taken into police custody for questioning, revealed police.

Reports have it that the group of locals had called for the government to ban Maldives Democracy Network (MDN) and take action against its officials, during the protest.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had on several occasions, assured the public that strict and adequate action will be taken against everyone behind the controversial “Preliminary Assessment of Radicalization in the Maldives” report by MDN, publicized in 2016. The report came into spot light recently and churned a public outcry for containing content that defames and mock Islam and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

The speaker is set to launch the southernmost atolls Councilors Conference on Thursday as part of his ongoing visit across the region.