Maldives Police Service (MPS) has launched an investigation into a gang violence incident that went viral on social media.
According to the authorities, a gang altercation that took place in front of Bank of Ceylon located on Bodu Thakurufaanu Magu was reported on Thursday night at 12:36 am and is currently undergoing investigation.
This comes at a time after a video of the violent altercation, depicting a youth sitting in the middle of the road as a group of 10 or so gangsters mercilessly beat him, went viral on social media shortly after. The video also shows a gangster on a motorbike ramming into the youth with the vehicle, following which the group of thugs begin beating the youth.
The video further shows the gangsters fleeing after a police officer intervenes at the scene. The youth is then seen slowly standing up from the ground and attempting to walk away.
601 cases of assault were reported last year in addition to 129 cases of gang violence.