Yoga Day is attacked by protesters in Maldives

• Maldives police used tear gas and pepper spray to subdue a crowd that disrupted a yoga event.
• Organisers said that more than 150 people were celebrating the International Day of Yoga.
• The event was being held by the Indian High Commission for Sri Lanka in the capital Male.

MALE: An organiser in the Maldives said that police used tear gas and pepper spray to control a crowd that disrupted a yoga practice held by the Indian High Commission in the capital Male on Tuesday morning.

One of the organisers, who did not wish to be identified because he was not authorised to speak to the media, told the international news agency that the crowd stormed a stadium where more than 150 people, including diplomats and government officials, were celebrating the International Day of Yoga, attacking participants and vandalising property.

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Islam is the official religion of the Maldives, a group of over 500,000 islands in the Indian Ocean.

The Superintendent of Police, Fathmath Nashwa, told the international news agency that police used pepper spray and tear gas to subdue the gathering and secure the area after first using anti-riot techniques.

As per Nashwa, six people have been arrested in connection with the event.

A police inquiry into the event has commenced, the President of the Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, stated.

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