Injured Constable at Abercrombie Unrest: 'I Thought I Was Going to Die'

A police constable injured during the violent unrest in Abercrombie has given a chilling first-hand account of the night he feared for his life. Constable Sheikh Ashfaaq Mungurali, who was hurt during the clashes that erupted in the Abercrombie and Sainte-Croix neighbourhoods of Port Louis, told reporters: "Monn trouv lamor" — Mauritian Creole for "I saw death" or "I thought I was going to die." His testimony offers a stark glimpse into the scale and ferocity of the violence that gripped these two working-class districts on the outskirts of the Mauritian capital, sending shockwaves across the country. **What happened in Abercrombie?** The unrest in Abercrombie and neighbouring Sainte-Croix broke out amid heightened community tensions. Rioters took to the streets, blocking roads, damaging property, and clashing with police. The Abercrombie police station itself was reported to have sustained damage during the disturbances. The situation escalated to the point where the Special Mobile Force (SMF) — Mauritius's paramilitary police unit — deployed armoured vehicles to contain the violence, a rare and significant measure that underscored the severity of the situation. Constable Mungurali was among the officers on the front line when the clashes reached their peak. The exact nature of his injuries has not been fully detailed in initial reports, but his account makes clear the level of danger faced by law enforcement that night. **Broader context: The Élodie Thomas case** The unrest is widely linked to public anger over the shooting of Élodie Thomas, a young woman who was struck by a bullet during the disorder. She underwent emergency surgery — performed late at night — to remove the bullet from her jaw. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has since called for a full inquiry into the circumstances of the shooting and has not ruled out a judicial investigation. The violence prompted authorities to close all schools, crèches, and MITD (Mauritius Institute of Training and Development) centres the following day, with university classes moved online. National and international examinations — including SC (School Certificate) and HSC (Higher School Certificate) exams — were also postponed. **What this means** The testimony of Constable Mungurali adds a human dimension to a crisis that has tested Mauritius's security forces and shaken public confidence. It raises serious questions about officer safety, policing tactics, and the underlying social grievances that fuelled the riots. With the DPP involved and a formal inquiry likely, the coming days will be critical in determining accountability — both for the violence itself and for the shooting of Élodie Thomas. Source: Le Defi Media