Maldives Police Service has said that a high number of officers were injured during the confrontation with the Bangladeshi expatriates that took hostages at Baa Atoll Bodufinolhu where they part of the resort development project.

The workers at Bodufinolhu has been saying that their frustrations turned to anger as they have not been paid for many months. And they protested on island before taking 12 Maldivians on the island hostage.

A statement issued by the police regarding their operation at Bodufinolhu, following the reports of the conflict at Bodufinolhu island, the first response was by the Baa Atoll Thulhaadhoo Police Station.

However, the expatriates at Bodufinolhu refused to comply and when officers went to the island late last night, they were met with rocks and metal rods being thrown at them.

Police said that one officer sustained a head injury in the attacks and were taken to the Baa Atoll Health Center for treatment. While another officer sustained a broken finger, many officers sustained numerous degrees of injuries.

And so, a team from the Police Public Order Response Unit, an investigation unit and two officials from the Bangladeshi High Commission went to the island led by two senior officers and rescued the hostages on the island early in the morning.

Maldives Police Service said that this morning’s team did not meet any resistance and with the help of the officials from the Bangladeshi High Commission, communication was established with the expatriates and 19 expatriates that took part in the conflict last night were arrested.

Officers on the island now are checking and collecting information the damages to the property across the island. The case is being investigated by the Serious and Organized Crime Department and the Human Trafficking Department of the Police.