Children involved in a violent altercation against a child inside AA. Rasdhoo Mosque

Maldives Police Service (MPS) are investigating a serious incident where a group of children were involved in violently harassing another child inside a mosque in Alif Alif atoll Rasdhoo on Friday night.

According to a local resident, the victim was native to Mathiveri island and had come to Rasdhoo to spend holidays with his family.

The incident, which occurred around the time for Tarawi'h prayers, was recorded and posted on social media with the prayer recitation audible in the background.

Police have advised people not to share the video or circulate it on social media as the scenes are difficult to watch and could violate the dignity of a child.

The video showed a child being bullied inside a toilet, getting assaulted verbally and physically by other children. In the lengthy and violent video, the child is seen being drenched with water from his own bottle and begging on his knees to be let go.

The incident caused outcry on the island of Rasdhoo, with citizens gathering outside the homes of the children involved in assaulting another child to express outrage.

On Friday night, Commissioner of Police Ali Shujau confirmed in a post on X that the incident had happened in Rasdhoo, and that it was being investigated as a serious issue.

As video of the incident surfaced on social media, Minister for Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan stated in a post on X that police had been notified of the issue, adding that they were conducting an investigation to find the culprit. He assured that the strictest action possible would be taken against them.

A message in the Police media WhatsApp group revealed that the investigation had identified two children, aged 13 and 14, as the main aggressors.

"For the information of all parties, the injured child is being provided with the necessary psycho-social support in collaboration with the relevant authorities," the police said in a statement.