Seven migrant workers were taken into police custody from Thilafushi island of Kaafu atoll, following a scuffle with Police.

Maldives Police Service revealed that the issue occurred due to a disagreement between the workers and their sponsors. While officers had quickly arrived at the scene following a report of a godown being vandalized, police said that the officers were targeted as well and that two of them had sustained injuries.

While over 100 migrant workers are to have protested in Thilafushi on Tuesday, a team from the police’s special operations department arrived on the island on Tuesday evening.

133 workers were taken into custody ‘temporarily’ amid the work to control the commotion, but 126 of them were released shortly after and only seven remain in custody. Police added that all seven are Indian nationals.