Amid Maldives Political Crisis; Indian-British journalists detained for violating rules

Maldives, February 10: Amidst the political turmoil pertaining in the island nation, Maldives Police have detained two foreign journalists for working in the country allegedly in violation of its immigration rules. The detained journalist is of one Indian Journalist and the other being from a British origin. Maldives Police said that they have handed over the one British and another Indian journalist to immigration authorities.

In a statement, the Police said that these individuals were found to be working and reporting as journalists while on a tourist visa, in contravention to the Immigration Act and Regulations. India has asked its Embassy in the Maldives to ascertain the details pertaining to the detention of the Indian national.

 

India has asked its embassy in the Maldives to ascertain the details pertaining to the detention of the Indian national.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "We have received information about an Indian national, Shri Money Sharma, working as a journalist, who has been detained by the Maldivian authorities. We have asked our embassy to get in touch with the local authorities to ascertain more details of the case,"

Maldives was plunged into political uncertainty after President Abdulla Yameen refused to implement a Supreme Court ruling. Situations of Maldives started getting worse as the President Abdullah Yameen has declared 15 days emergency in the country. As the news of Emergency spread, a wave of protests broke out in the capital Male, with angry clashes between police and demonstrators. The government, however, maintained that Emergency was enforced for the welfare of citizens.