Mauritius student charged under terrorism act over WhatsApp group

An 18-year-old college student, Akshaye Boodhun, has been provisionally charged under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) after admitting to creating a WhatsApp group named ‘Burning Paradise’. The group reportedly grew to approximately 500 members.

Boodhun was arrested by the Central Crime Investigation Department (CCID) as part of an investigation into recent civil unrest across various regions of Mauritius. While he admitted to initiating the discussion group following the October 9 disturbances in Camp-Levieux—an incident in which Élodie Thomas was shot—he maintained that he had no intention of inciting violence or disrupting public order.

In a related development, a 30-year-old resident of Roche-Noire has also been arrested and faces provisional charges under Article 8 of the POTA. Authorities are continuing their inquiries to determine the group's connection to recent social incidents.