Transparecny Maldives on Thursday called on the relevant state institutions to probe police using excessive force against local journalists amid fresh political strife in the archipelago.
TM in a statement said police had not provided adequate protection to journalists covering the ongoing serial protests in the capital Male.
The statement also noted the arrest of seven journalists from opposition aligned Raajje TV and Sangu TV on Wednesday where video footage has emerged of a police officer brutally kicking a video journalist after being taken into custody.
TM had also called on the government to allow for the independent functioning of democratic institutions and stop impeding free media.
Police meanwhile had released all the journalists hours after the arrest after the Maldives Media Council intervened.
However, a Sangu TV video journalist has been summoned for questioning over a "criminal offence."
