Cops haul up 31 participants at vigil for Covid-19 deaths
A total of 31 individuals were taken into custody at Dang Wangi police station tonight after being dispersed from Dataran Merdeka where they had gathered for a vigil in memory of all those who died of Covid-19 so far.
Many of them were seen physically dragged into the waiting Black Marias, after altercations between the vigil participants and police personnel on-site.
They were heard repeatedly...
A total of 31 individuals were taken into custody at Dang Wangi police station tonight after being dispersed from Dataran Merdeka where they had gathered for a vigil in memory of all those who died of Covid-19 so far.
Many of them were seen physically dragged into the waiting Black Marias, after altercations between the vigil participants and police personnel on-site.
They were heard repeatedly demanding the police to state whether they were under arrest, but their questions were ignored.
Police then acted to drag and lift those who refused to move unless clearly stated whether they were under arrest or otherwise.
The individuals, including from Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat (SSR) - the organiser of the recent #Lawan protest - comprise 17 men and 14 women, mostly youths.
A large group of police personnel were on standby since around 8pm in anticipation of the vigil participants.
They briefly gathered carrying signs and placards, including one with the number 13,480 - the Covid-19 death toll as of today.
The police stopped the vigil after SSR's Ashraf Sharafi finished reading a statement by the youth coalition at 8.30pm.
Others at the site include youth activists Mohammad Abdullah Al-Shatry, Qyira Yusri, Wong Yan Ke and at least six Parti Sosialis Malaysia Youth members.
Police initially requested and seized the participants' identification cards.
Several police officers were heard telling the participants to follow them to Dang Wangi police station for "documentation purposes".
The last participant was removed from their gathering spot at around 9pm.
At Dang Wangi, a group of lawyers have since gathered and are waiting to be allowed access to their clients.
It is understood that police had seized mobile phones belonging to the participants, restricting their access to the lawyers present.
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