The Commissioner of Police, Mohamed Hameed, said on Saturday that four gangs are responsible for the recent increase in violent crimes in the capital city.
Speaking to local media "Adhadhu," Commissioner Hameed said that the cause of the violence was conflicts between different gangs.
He said that there was a disagreement between two gang members from "Kuda Henveyru" and "NC" on January 16. This clash was the cause of the recent incidents of violent attacks using sharp objects.
On Friday night, a 30-year-old man was assaulted with a sharp object while he was in a shop in Maafannu ward in Malé. He is currently being treated at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).
"A business in Hulhumalé was vandalised due to a disagreement between two groups calling themselves "Masodi" and "Vaikanmathi," Hameed told Adhadhu.
A small café called "Juice Time" was vandalised using iron bars by two men in helmets. The CCTV footage of the incident shows the men entering the café by breaking the glass windows, and everything on the counter and the shelves were destroyed. The shopkeeper was not harmed and could be seen fleeing. The two men could then be seen driving off.
According to Commissioner Hameed, gang members have begun to cover their tracks by changing the licence plates on their vehicles and wearing helmets.
The police have been running several operations in an effort to tackle these incidents of organised violent crimes. Hameed said that 16 arrests had been made within the last two months for gang-related crimes.
He also revealed that the police cracked down on four safe-houses used by gangs and confiscated several weapons from these locations.
He assured that the police are working tirelessly to counter these violent crimes and said that additional measures will be taken for public safety. He also requested the public’s support in reducing crime.
"I urge everyone to report the things that they see that go against basic social conduct, improper behaviour on the roads, and any action that you suspect may lead to violence," Commissioner Hameed told Adhadhu.
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