Lynching attempt in Yapacaní: mob sets suspect on fire and attacks police
Two men accused of stealing motorcycles were beaten and one doused with petrol in Yapacaní. The mob destroyed six vehicles and wounded five police officers.
Enraged mob attacks police and sets suspect on fire in Yapacaní
Two men accused of stealing motorcycles came close to being lynched by residents of Yapacaní on Wednesday, according to El Deber. The mob forced them to walk tied up through the streets, beat them, and sprayed petrol over one of them before setting him on fire. Police intervened and rescued both accused men, triggering a new wave of violence from the inflamed groups.
In retaliation for the rescue, the demonstrators destroyed six vehicles—three privately owned and three police patrol cars—and wounded five uniformed officers. The man who was set on fire was taken to San Juan de Dios hospital in Santa Cruz, where initial medical reports indicated burns on 45 per cent of his body. Medical care saved his life; he remains hospitalised under police custody. The second detainee is at the Montero Police station, under investigation by the Public Prosecutor's office.
Authorities condemn incidents and warn of legal action
Yapacaní's mayor, Juan Ramos Alanís, the commander of police in Ichilo Province, Colonel Juan José Bustillos Loza, councillors, and community leaders met the following day to analyse the incident and express their rejection of the attacks against the police institution.
Ramos Alanís noted that he had even used his own resources to contribute to the repair of police vehicles in the past. Following the new destruction, authorities will need to seek additional funding to restore police operational capacity in the municipality.
Departmental commander Edson Fernández announced that those involved in the attacks have been fully identified and that investigations and legal proceedings will be initiated to determine responsibilities. Among those named is a minor.
Fernández stressed that no person can take justice into their own hands. "That is what the rules are for, and we have an obligation to protect the integrity of people," the commander stated, recalling that police have a duty to investigate robbery reports and guarantee the rule of law.
Pattern of violence repeated in Yapacaní
The incidents follow a pattern that has already been recorded in the area in recent years. Last May, agents from the Special Force to Combat Drug Trafficking (Felcn) were also attacked in Yapacaní and Santa Fe following a traffic incident. On that occasion, police officers were wounded—including a colonel—and vehicles and facilities at the command post were destroyed.
To date, there is no record of any persons arrested and prosecuted in court for those earlier attacks, which, according to authorities, makes it difficult to establish precedents against this type of collective violence.
Source: El Deber