Commissioner of Police Ahmed Mohamed has accused a group of motorcyclists of deliberately attempting to disrupt a police operation on the Sinamalé Bridge Highway, following an incident in which a speeding motorcycle struck an officer and left him with serious injuries.
The Commissioner said preliminary investigations indicate that the collision was intentional and aimed at intimidating police officers conducting a special operation against reckless driving.
The incident occurred at approximately 4:29 am on Saturday, October 17, along the highway connecting Malé and Hulhumalé.
According to the Maldives Police Service, the motorcycle was travelling at more than 100 kilometres per hour when it approached a police checkpoint on the lane heading towards Hulhumalé.
The motorcycle crashed into barricades positioned along the road before striking an officer who was carrying out his duties at the checkpoint.
The officer sustained serious injuries, including a split mouth, broken teeth and other bodily injuries. He was taken to ADK Hospital, where he remains admitted and is receiving medical treatment.
In a statement following the incident, Commissioner Ahmed Mohamed strongly condemned the collision, describing it as a serious act directed against officers performing their lawful responsibilities.
He said information gathered during the initial investigation suggested that the motorcycle had been driven towards the checkpoint deliberately, rather than the collision being an ordinary traffic accident.
According to the Commissioner, the suspected intention was to obstruct the ongoing road safety operation and intimidate officers into abandoning enforcement activities targeting dangerous motorists.
Police also identified the involvement of three other motorcycles at the time of the incident, raising concerns that the collision may have involved more than the two individuals travelling on the motorcycle that struck the officer.
Four people have so far been taken into police custody in connection with the incident.
The two individuals riding the motorcycle that collided with the officer were arrested, while two additional suspects were subsequently detained.
Police have also taken another motorcycle into custody as part of the investigation.
The Commissioner said the Maldives Police Service would not allow threats or acts of intimidation to interfere with its responsibility to maintain public safety.
He stressed that officers would continue performing their duties despite the risks posed by individuals attempting to obstruct police operations.
The special operation targeting dangerous driving will therefore continue without interruption, with police maintaining enforcement activities intended to improve road safety and prevent reckless behaviour.
Ahmed Mohamed also warned that the authorities would pursue strict legal action against those responsible for dangerous acts directed at police officers.
The incident comes amid heightened police attention towards reckless driving and high-speed motorcycle activity on the roads connecting Malé, Hulhulé and Hulhumalé.
The Sinamalé Bridge Highway serves as one of the country’s main transport corridors, carrying vehicles between the capital, Velana International Airport and Hulhumalé.
Excessive speeding along the highway presents serious risks to motorists, pedestrians and officers conducting roadside enforcement operations, particularly during nighttime and early morning hours.
Police checkpoints are among the measures used by authorities to identify traffic violations and discourage dangerous driving.
The latest incident has drawn attention to the dangers faced by officers conducting such operations, especially when vehicles approach checkpoints at high speeds.
Although the Commissioner has characterised the collision as deliberate based on preliminary findings, the investigation remains ongoing and the allegations have not yet been established through court proceedings.
Police have not announced the specific charges to be brought against the four individuals in custody.
Meanwhile, the injured officer continues to receive treatment at ADK Hospital as police investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and the suspected involvement of other motorcyclists.
