Police have stepped up their investigation into the brutal murder of Abdul Rahman Adam, 65, who was killed while sleeping at his residence.

According to Maalhos City Council President Ismail Naseer, officers have begun questioning residents living near the scene of the crime. An information sheet of individuals in the area has been compiled, and several people were interrogated on Monday evening.

Police have also collected fingerprints and biological samples from those who entered the victim’s room or were present at the scene. As Maalhos lacks a dedicated police station, investigative operations are being carried out at the local council office.

A search operation was conducted at beach, near his residence, including a snorkelling sweep of the lagoon in an attempt to locate the murder weapon. However, no item of interest was recovered.

Abdul Rahman's body has been transported to Malé for a post-mortem, and authorities plan to send it to India for further forensic examination.