MCIT Investigation - Murder of Santa Mathurasingh in June: A Second Suspect Arrested

A significant development has occurred in the investigation into the murder of 82-year-old Santa Mathurasingh, which took place overnight from June 21 to 22 at her home on Queen Elizabeth Avenue, 7th Mile, Triolet. Six months after this tragedy, the Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT) has made notable progress. Last weekend, the police arrested 28-year-old Bhavishshankar Juglaul, also from 7th Mile, Triolet. He is the second suspect taken into custody after Ravish Kumar Seetul.

On Friday, December 19, Bhavishshankar Juglaul was provisionally charged with murder in the Pamplemousses district court. Since the police objected to his release, he has been returned to police custody.

His arrest follows a statement from the victim’s sister, Gyantee Humawtee Ramnarain Seewoopaul, aged 83 and a survivor of the violent assault, who identified Bhavishshankar Juglaul in her testimony to the MCIT. Following the attack that resulted in her sister's death, she was hospitalized. She explained to investigators that there were two assailants and that she recognized Bhavishshankar Juglaul in her house.

During an identification exercise, she formally recognized him as the second suspect. However, he denied any involvement. The MCIT investigation continues, with the motive appearing to be theft.

On the morning of June 22, the gruesome discovery in the home shared by the two sisters, Santa Mathurasingh and Gyantee Humawtee Ramnarain Seewoopaul, in Triolet shocked the entire island of Mauritius. As owners of a family shop, their business had unusually remained closed that day. Relatives went to their home to check on them. One relative recounted, "I went, the door was open. I found my aunt underneath, the other was covered under the mattress. I touched her, she was already cold. Her sister was under the mattress; I heard her crying, pleading. My stomach turned, I lifted the mattress, and we found her breathing. We took precautions and pulled her out."

Following this fatal assault, Santa Mathurasingh succumbed to asphyxiation by smothering and a neck fracture.