Mob temporarily disrupts yoga day event in Maldives; 6 arrested
Male, Jun 21: A mob on Tuesday temporarily disrupted an event related to the International Day of Yoga at a football stadium here in the Maldivian capital which was attended by top diplomats and members of the general public, attacking some of the participants and destroying property.
In a statement, police said that they were treating the incident as a serious issue, and the Serious and Organised Crime Department was investigating it with "utmost urgency." So far, six persons have been taken into custody, police said.
"An investigation has been launched by @PoliceMv into the incident that happened this morning at Galolhu stadium. This is being treated as a matter of serious concern and those responsible will be swiftly brought before the law," President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih tweeted.
Maldives Police Service has launched a high priority investigation into the violent disruption of the event held at the National Stadium in the Muslim majority nation.
"Perpetrators had sought to incite fear by forcefully entering, destroying property and attempting to assault participants of the event," said the police statement.
The event - organised by Indian High Commission in Maldives in collaboration with Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment of Maldives and UN in the Maldives - was attended by diplomats, state dignitaries and members of the public. The Indian and British envoys were among those attending the event, according to the Associated Press.
After the brief disruption by religious hardliners, the event resumed and the session got completed successfully.
In a separate statement, the Government of Maldives strongly condemned the "violent acts perpetrated by a group of individuals" targeting the participants, including members of the diplomatic community who were attending the celebrations held to mark the 8th United Nations International Day of Yoga.
"Such malicious acts of violence aimed at disrupting public safety and undermining security of individuals and the diplomatic corps will not be tolerated. Authorities have launched a special investigation into today's incident and the Government will ensure that the perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice," it said.
Police said that preliminary investigative findings showed some of the items used by rioters came from the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) office.
"As of now, the evidence indicates that the demonstrators were using items taken from the office of the PPM," police said.
Police said they would also look into what caused the incident, and conduct an internal review of the police response to the incident.
Those with evidence or information pertaining to the incident have been asked to submit it to the web portal set up for case tips.
Police provided assurance they will ensure the anonymity and safety of all individuals who submit information via the portal.
Meanwhile, PPM issued a statement condemning the incident, the Sun newspaper reported.
Some allege the flags used by the rioters were the same ones used in the Nabiyyaage Dhifaaugai rally recently held by PPM.
PPM's Secretary-General Mohamed Tholal told Sun said the flags used by rioters were similar to the ones used by his party in its rally, but that it yet remained unclear whether it was the same flags.
"It's possible those were our flags. I am unable to say for sure yet whether those were our flags, he said.
Sports Minister Ahmed Mahloof alleged stopping the event by portraying yoga as an anti-Islamic pursuit was a political act. He said that the incident involved PPM and Jamiyyath Salaf, the paper reported.
Salaf has also issued a statement denying involvement in the incident.
The International Yoga Day is celebrated on June 21 every year around the world. This day has been celebrated in the Maldives, since 2015.
Dramatic visuals from Maldives as group of extremists disrupt Yoga Day celebrations organised in capital Male pic.twitter.com/es9q3y5g2o
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) June 21, 2022
An investigation has been launched by @PoliceMv into the incident that happened this morning at Galolhu stadium.
— Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (@ibusolih) June 21, 2022
This is being treated as a matter of serious concern and those responsible will be swiftly brought before the law.
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13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
