The Indian High Commission in the Maldives has said an expatriate teacher hospitalised after being attacked on the island of Kumundhoo in Haa Dhaalu Atoll is waiting on education authorities to renew his visa before he can return to India for treatment.
Physics teacher Neelakantan Pappukutty Subash Kumar, who was attacked on May 14 over allegations he hit a student in the chest, had still been working for the Ministry of Education despite his work visa having expired the previous month. The teacher is not thought to be in a critical condition, according to diplomatic sources.
Kumundhoo Island Councilor Ali Anwar claimed Wednesday (May 15) that islanders had destroyed a a power distribution unit outside the school to cut off its electricity, before then entering and attacking the teacher, despite efforts by staff to try and prevent the assault.
“Yesterday afternoon the expat teacher hit a 13 year-old student in the chest and the child fell and couldn’t breathe and was taken to the health centre,” Anwar said. “The islanders became angry at the teacher and gathered outside the school. The security guard and school staff were unable to control them.”
Arrests
The Maldives Police Service (MPS) confirmed today that five people had now been arrested in connection to the attack on the teacher, with investigations ongoing into the matter. A police spokesperson said the teacher had since been transferred to Male’ following the attack, although the MPS had no further details about his status at time of press.
Meanwhile, the Indian High Commission told Minivan News today that although the expatriate teacher’s condition was not believed to be critical, efforts to return him to India for additional treatment had been impeded as a result of education authorities failing to renew his visa on time.
“His visa expired in April and is not yet renewed. The Education Ministry will send him back as soon as his visa is renewed,” the commission confirmed.
Education Minister Dr Asim Ahmed was not responding to calls from Minivan News at time of press.
An Indian diplomatic source said that it was likely Maldives authorities would have sent the expatriate back to India immediately had he been in a critical condition.
However, the same source claimed the teacher’s treatment continued to highlight ongoing concerns raised by the High Commission over the Maldives’ treatment of foreign workers, notably the retention of passports and travel documents by private and state employers.
“The fact remains that his work permit has not been renewed. He was a government employee – they should have renewed his documents before they expired, not afterwards,” the diplomatic source said. “This [issue] has been going on for over one and a half years now.”
A senior Indian medical with experience of working in the country previously alleged that expatriate professionals were regularly facing intimidation and fraud in the country from employers and some members of the public.
Strain
The Maldives’ relationship with India has appeared strained since President Dr Mohamed Waheed’s government took the decision last November to evict Indian infrastructure giant GMR from the country with seven days notice.
The US$511 concession agreement to develop Ibrahim Nasir International Airport was declared ‘void from the start’. However, the government’s sudden eviction of the Indian investor did not however appear on a list of 11 grievances handed to all senior Maldivian reporters by the Indian High Commission this January.
The list of Consular issues affecting the India-Maldives relationship included a number of concerns: discrimination against Indian expatriates, the keeping of passports of Indian nationals by employers, exploitation of Indian workers and repatriation of mortal remains.
Threats towards the country’s diplomats, a disparity in visa charges between the two countries and the repatriation of salaries were also raised as issues. The list’s release was followed by the Indian High Commission issuing a statement in early February slamming local media in the Maldives for “misrepresentation and twisting of issues”.
“The High Commission has noted a recent trend in a section of local media to publish negative, unsubstantiated reports, while blacking out objective and positive news on Indian issues,” the commission said at the time.
Despite admitting that every country has high and lows in their bilateral relations with neighbours, the new Indian High Commissioner to the Maldives Rajeev Shahare last month emphasised what he called the country’s “unshakable” long-standing relationship with the Maldives.
“During my tenure, I will endeavour to further strengthen the relationship between India and the Maldives, which is already very strong with an unshakable foundation,” he said on April 10, shortly after his appointment.
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This man does not need his friggin visa renewed, he needs to be returned safely to his family in India. The Indian embassy should then forward his medical bills to the Ministry of Education who recruited him but failed lamentably to ensure his safety. The mistreatment of Indians in Maldives must cease at once.
Indian teachers and doctors should get the hell out of Maldives and move to more civilised countries.....somewhere where their passports will not be taken away by some local crook or ministry.....somewhere where they will be paid a decent salary........somewhere where the local people don't behave like a bunch of drugged up savages.
Lets face it, if Maldivians were able to train teachers and doctors they would not be so desperate to recruit outsiders. Heck, is there a single university in your country?
A Maldivian teacher would not have been treated this way.....why?.....because you dumb retards really believe you are somehow superior to the Indians and
Bangladeshis who have the misfortune to work in your country.
You neanderthals need to look at yourselves in the mirror.........can you see the void between your ears?.........look closely.
There was a child rights, we agree to follow these rules and regulation related to child rights under the globally rights.
Its high time to chnage rules and regulation in Maldives .maintain law and order ,stregthen the police and give them power to act.Stop harrasing expatriates in Maldives. Learn to respect the people who serve you ,like teachers ,doctors and other respectable pwople.
Its funny in this article , the writer Neil Merret states that the Maldivian child was "allegedly hit" by the Indian teacher, probably to convey the impression that the Indian teacher MAY or MAY NOT have hit the student, even though the statement of the councillor states that the student was taken to health centre (after he MAY or MAY NOt have been hit). Can a kid get taken to a health centre for probably being hit ?
However when stating the attack on the Indian teacher, the writer states the Indian teacher WAS ATTACKED by islands...
Anyone notice the difference in tones ?
"Maldivian student was allegedly hit....." (trying to communicate vagueness).
"Indian teacher WAS attacked..." (trying to communicate certainty).
Its like the writer is saying, the teacher was attacked for something he may not have done, even though the article states evidence to the contrary.
A bit biased and in favor of expatriates aren't we ? Trying to downplay the actions of the violent teacher, whose assault on the kid led to islanders assaulting him....
@MissIndia...Control your temper...bcos of one or two incidents and bcos of one or two ppl, we should not blame the entire community...I can very well understand tat u r very upset of this incident....It was jus an accident...It is not happeneing to every indian teachers....I ve read some comments posted by sme maldivians condemning tis incident...please dont write anythng which hurts others feeling...I dont find any difference between u n the Islanders...sorry...
Miss India is known for the arrogance and hate that this guy have towards Maldivian.
We all condemn the attack on the teacher whether it is Indian or Sri Lankan or Maldivian teacher and it make no difference.
Few people from this Island had done very wrong and they need to be punished.
But for Miss India. You damn idiot still working in this country because you can not find a decent job in India.
Miss India there over 40% unemployed people or under paid people in India and why the hell you think these people are not employed or paid well.
India does not have the capacity to provide the employment for all Indian and that is why people are seeking the job else where including Maldives.
These kind of isolated incidents can not be used to create a hate against the country just because you wish to do.
In fact people like you are the people who might be creating or igniting this kind of violence in the country .
90% of the attackers will be also positive for brown sugar.
@ Kuribee
For the umpteenth time retard...........I DO NOT LIVE OR WORK IN THE MALDIVES.
Why is it that whenever anyone criticizes you dumb ass people.....350,000 dumb ass people no less.....then that person MUST be living and working in the wonderful Maldives. I certainly do not. Seriously, does my english language skills suggest I am in need of a crap job on some godforsaken Maldivian atoll?
As I have said umpteeth times before I am one of the many fortunate Indians who do not have to travel to third rate countries to take up poorly paid fourth rate jobs and have my passport retained by some local crook or mafioso.
All Indian expats working in Maldives.....and you have my deepest sympathy guys.....must report to the Indian embassy if their passports are still being held by their employers. If this illegal and exploitative practice does not stop immediately, the Indian Immigration authorities at all airports and seaports in India should confiscate the passports of all Maldivians entering India.....its called tit for tat diplomacy. Additionally, as a welcome to India bonus, they should be tested for drugs and those testing positive refused entry. That will no doubt take care of 99% of Maldivain visitors.....as we all know you are South Asia's most drugged up people.
That should make the dumbos in your immigration service sit up and take notice very quickly.
What is happening to the thugs who attached the teacher on Kumundhoo hellhole? Given a pat on the back and let off?
Its high opportunity to chnage standards and regulation in Maldives .uphold lawfulness ,stregthen the police and give them power to act.stop harrasing ostracizes in Maldives. Figure out how to appreciation the individuals who serve you ,for example educators ,specialists and other respectable pwople.