Protests against soaring energy prices erupted in Camp Levieux on Wednesday 20 April, marking a rare show of mass public dissent in the outskirt of Rose Hill.
According to media reports, Police reportedly used tear gas after the multihundred-strong crowd refused to disperse and attacked with rocks.
Video footage run by several media houses showed demonstrators had also set fire to tires and old mattresses to block the main access road of the locality.
During a brief confrontation between anti-riot police and mobsters, a handful of local social workers were arrested, sparking further anger among residents.
They were nonetheless released after the intervention of lawyer Rama Valayden and other lawyers.
The demonstrations erupted during the morning after the State Trading Corporation (STC) applied a 10% increase in the prices of gasoline and diesel – the third such increase in four months.
24 hours earlier, the STC had also slapped a 33% increase in the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) – commonly known as cooking gas.
This had already sparked popular outcry – with consumer rights activists and opposition calling the hike as “criminal”.
The Mauritian government said such hikes were inevitable and it was still trying hard to absorb costs.
But problems over inflating prices have been building for months. Latest figures reveal inflation has soared to a staggering 10.7%.
Human rights groups have said Mauritius’ law on public gatherings contradicts international standards as it requires preliminary permission from authorities to hold rallies.
According to reports, the crowd dispersed late in the evening.
