Police ready for the election, slates exercise for tomorrow

Maldives Police Service, underscoring they have been undertaking all efforts on their side to ensure peace and security during the presidential election slated for next Saturday, states a special operation in this trajectory will take place tomorrow.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday evening. Police’s election operations commander Chief Superintendent Ahmed Shakir, referring to the ‘Blue Wave’ operation undertaken by the police in connection to the election, said the authority’s alert level has been raised since the sixth of last month.

Police said they have undertaken various efforts to prepare for the election operation in collaboration with various institutions and departments since the start of this year.

They noted that all officers who will be part of this operation have been provided the necessary training as of present.

“An exercise to assess the preparedness of the police will be held. We are holding this exercise to assess the preparations for the election scheduled for the 9^th. We want to bring this to the attention of the media and the public as the exercise will proceed in all Maldivian regions including the Greater Male’ Area,” Shakir said.

Deputy Commander of the operations Superintendent Ahmed Muslim noted that the police had been providing security in printing the ballot papers and their transportation from one place to another.

He particularly emphasized that officers working on the frontlines, at polling stations and polling centers, will be using body-worn cameras throughout the operation.

Commenting on death threats to two presidential candidates – Shakir said that Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) is responsible for the security of the presidential candidates. 

He also noted that breakthroughs made in connection to the death threats against independent presidential candidate, Umar Naseer, have been shared with him.

Shakir, noting personal security for the candidates is provided by Maldives National Security, said police had held discussions with the candidates’ SPGs and other concerned parties in light of the death threats. 

He assured that the police would oversee the security of places visited by candidates and running mates for their campaigns.