MNDF silent after bullet strikes house in inhabited island

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has remained silent after a bullet, believed to have been fired from the military training island of Girifushi in Kaafu atoll, was found lodged in the window frame of a house in neighbouring Himmafushi island last Wednesday.

The bullet, which struck the Himmafushi house situated 300 metres from the beach which faces Girifushi, marks the second such incident. The first time a bullet was found lodged in the door of a house in Himmafushi in 2015.

Though the second bullet was discovered Wednesday, authorities are unsure when it had struck the house. Himmafushi Island Council initially believed that the bullet came from Girifushi as an army training session had taken place in that island recently. However, an island councillor later reported that, according to the police investigation, the origin of the bullet cannot be pinned to Girifushi with full certainty.

According to the councillor, the police team had fired guns from Himmafushi beach towards Girifushi to consider the prospect of a bullet reaching the former from Girifushi. The councillor reported that, after the experiment, the team had said it was improbable.

“So now, we’re even more worried, we don’t know what’s happening.”

The council member went on to say that the second incident has sparked panic and anxiety among the residents of Himmafushi, with most of them now keeping their distance from the island side that faces Girifushi.

“Talks of the bullet are everywhere. At coffee tables and in every other place, no one talks about anything else. The people are very worried.”

Police has not provided any details except that the bullet calibre is 9mm. Nor have MNDF made any official statements on the topic despite the danger the incident poses to public safety.

While the investigative team has declared that the bullet is unlikely to have originated from Girifushi, the range of a 9mm is up to 1,800 metres. The distance between Girifushi and Himmafushi is less than 1000 metres.

The people of Himmafushi have voiced concern over the second such incident to occur, saying that the matter is far too serious to be dismissed so lightly.