10 year old given cigarettes, threatened

It has been revealed that a child in an island in Central Maldives was made to smoke a cigarette and subsequently threatened.

The father of the 10 year old boy posted on social media stating that two 17 year olds under the care of the Social and Family Ministry had threatened his son while he was on his way to the mosque for Maqrib prayers.

The 10 year old was threatened after he was taken to an abandoned area.

The father had stated that the two 17 year olds had attempted to force his son to smoke. The father also said that the 17 year olds had pressed the lit cigarette onto his son's body and threatened that if he told his family, they would kill him.

"My son was scared after the incident, he had trouble talking," said the father.

"This is completely unacceptable. I call the government, the Gender Ministry and the police to look into the matter and bring about justice. No children should be threatened in any manner."

It is currently known that one of the 17 year olds who had gone to prayers with the 10 year old had choked the 10 year old while at school.

No statement from the police has been received at the time.