Indians warned against travelling to the Maldives

New Delhi, February 6: The Government of India has issued an advisory to citizens against travelling to the Maldives, in the wake of the Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen declaring a 15-day state of emergency on Monday.

“Indian nationals are, therefore, advised to defer all non-essential travels to Male and other atolls until further notice. Indian expatriates in Maldives are also alerted to the need for heightened security awareness and urged to exercise due caution in public and avoid public gatherings,” the ministry added.

Meanwhile, Maldives police arrested Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and another Supreme Court judge, hours after President Abdulla Yameen declared a state of emergency for 15 days. Police said, in a Twitter message, they have arrested Saeed and Supreme Court Judge Ali Hameed in an ongoing investigation.

A former president of Maldives, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who was in power for three decades, was also arrested last night as a crackdown on the opposition intensifies. Gayoom was detained after the government declared the state of emergency, suspending Parliament and sending police to the Supreme Court.

President Abdulla Yameen has refused to comply with a court order to release political prisoners. The army has been ordered to resist any move to impeach him. UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson in a statement called on President Yameen to lift the state of emergency.

The emergency declaration came after standoff between President and Supreme court where the former refused to comply by the court order to release opposition leaders. The declaration gives sweeping powers to security forces for arrest and detention while limiting the role of Supreme Court and parliament.