Main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) deputy chairperson Ali Niyaz has been put under house arrest for a week after he was arrested during a protest on Friday.
Police arrested Niyaz from the protest on Friday against the court ordered delay of the upcoming local council elections.
The civil court had last week postponed the council polls originally slated for January 14 by two months.
Ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) filed the case seeking to delay the upcoming council polls by two months citing that the ongoing rift within the party had impeded its preparations for the elections slated for January 14.
Niyaz has been accused of inciting unrest and urging a protest in an unauthorized venue.