Disturbances at Palmar Beach: Nine Suspects Arrested in Less Than 24 Hours
Nine individuals have been arrested following disturbances that occurred on Sunday at Palmar Beach in the East. The party-goers, targeted for noise pollution, resisted the police who were dispatched to the scene.
On Sunday, January 25th, around 6:30 PM, the police were alerted about noise disturbances at Palmar Beach. Several vehicles were playing loud music. Upon arrival, officers identified a car equipped with multiple speakers. While attempting to identify the vehicle's owner, a crowd gathered around the police, refusing to cooperate.
During the intervention, a man snatched a sergeant's mobile phone and threw it on the sand. The officer managed to recover his device. Tensions escalated as nearly 250 people surrounded the law enforcement officers. Empty bottles and sand were thrown at the officers and their vehicles. One of the suspects, Maheshwarnath Mungurah, 28, allegedly made threats: "Yes, for me, I'm a guard for the Adsu... I'll come down to you tomorrow, you'll see who I am."
Facing the risk of escalation, the police opted to withdraw. Several videos recorded at the scene are now circulating internally to identify potential accomplices and trace responsibilities for these acts of vandalism and rebellion.
On Monday, January 26th, nine suspects were arrested by the CID of the Eastern Division, including Maheshwarnath Mungurah, Jean Désiré Laval Thomas, 34, Nikhil Gadadhar, 19, Rajiv Gadadhar, 22, Ittish Jowrah, 20, Tissan Kumar Goonjur, 23, and Akshay Keerpah, 25. All are residents of the East of the country. Two of them were released on parole in the afternoon. The others will be provisionally charged on Tuesday in Flacq court for vandalism and rebellion.
Investigators from the CID of Trou-d’Eau-Douce, assisted by the Field Intelligence Office, are continuing investigations to identify other suspects. Several groups of youths identified from Monday morning are being targeted for further arrests.
The case is being closely monitored by the Central Barracks.
The Beach Authority Tightens Regulations
The Beach Authority reacted to the incident that occurred on Sunday, January 25th, at the public beach of Belle-Mare. In a statement released on Monday, it condemned the disruptions caused by a group of individuals and announced an increase in vigilance.
The Beach Authority reminds that according to the Environmental Protection (Control of Noise) Regulations 2008 and the Environmental Protection (Environmental Standards for Noise) Regulations 2022, "any noise that constitutes a nuisance is prohibited." Offenders face fines, and the authority warns against broader impacts: "Such incidents harm the image of our country and disrupt users' moments of relaxation."
In this context, the Beach Authority announced a strengthening of coordination with the police, including the Environmental Police, to "enhance vigilance and take all necessary measures to ensure compliance with regulations." It calls on users to adopt responsible behavior: "The Beach Authority urges everyone to demonstrate civic responsibility, respect noise limits prescribed by law, and contribute to preserving the peaceful and welcoming environment of our public beaches, which is a source of pride for our island."
Police Fighters Union: "We Condemn These Incidents"
The Police Fighters Union has spoken out following the incidents at Palmar public beach. According to Sergeant Ajeet Fokeer, a representative of the Police Fighters Union, the widely circulated images on social media testify to the violence of the situation. "When watching the videos circulating online, we see that police officers were pushed around and violently insulted in public," he lamented.
In light of this concerning situation, Sergeant Fokeer advocates for the introduction, where possible, of body cameras for police officers and the installation of cameras in police vehicles. According to him, these devices would help enhance officer safety while ensuring greater transparency during police interventions.