Police isolated and attacked journalists at protest

Journalists and camera crew at the Jumhooree Party’s (JP) rally last night, there to cover the unrest that ensued following its leader Qasim Ibrahim arrest, were attacked and isolated.

While the police had indiscriminately used pepper spray on while attempting to disburse those gathered to express discontent over the arrest.

Raajje Television’s camera crew reported that officers had damaged their equipment as well.

“They pepper-sprayed us and even caused damage to some of our equipment, they did not seem like they wanted to show reporters a thing” Mohamed Anil, the station’s chief cameraman said.

His collegue, Adam Zareer, had also had to sought care with the ADK Hospital after sustaining minor injuries at the protests. Another journalist, with the state broadcaster Public Service Media, had also been taken to the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital.

Police had indiscriminately used pepper spray on while attempting to disburse those gathered to express discontent over the arrest

Ahmed Azmoon, with Raajje Television, said that the journalists were ‘attacked and strong-armed’ into a narrow street and barricaded away – by officers who had formed a shield-wall – from the protest.

“They had used pepper spray on us even after isolating all the journalists together, we had our press-cards on too” Azmoon said.