Security Council Convenes in Putumayo After Tragic Incident Leaves Three Dead and One Seriously Injured

Security Council Convenes in Putumayo After Tragic Incident Leaves Three Dead and One Seriously Injured

On the morning of Tuesday, September 19, a security council convened in Putumayo in response to a tragic incident in the rural area of Mocoa, where three individuals lost their lives, and another was seriously injured. Local authorities from the department gathered to discuss and plan coordinated institutional efforts aimed at unraveling the circumstances surrounding this heinous act and identifying those accountable.

Additionally, the National Police has disclosed the deployment of a team of experts from the Criminal Investigation Directorate and Interpol to carry out essential law enforcement activities related to the case.

On September 18th, the quiet tranquillity of Mocoa, a municipality in the department of Putumayo, was shattered by a brutal attack. Three young individuals, aged between 17 and 20 years, were mercilessly gunned down on a public street around 10 p.m. In addition to these victims, another young person was critically injured by a gunshot wound.

Swift Response by Local Authorities

The Putumayo Police Department promptly confirmed the gruesome assault that took place in the Los Guaduales village. The wounded victim was initially rushed to the Mocoa Hospital. However, owing to the severity of the injuries, the victim had to be transferred to the city of Pasto for advanced medical care. The incident has sparked an alarm, shaking the relative peace of the region.

For the investigations, a team of professionals from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Interpol has been assigned. Their primary task is to clarify the facts surrounding the incident and apprehend those responsible for the heinous crime.

Murders Leave a Community in Shock

Regarding the criminal incidents in the Los Guaduales village, the Police have confirmed three fatalities and one individual critically injured by gunfire. The injured person required transportation to Pasto due to the severity of their condition.

The bodies of the murdered young individuals were found abandoned on the road leading to the San Francisco variant. The brutal murders have left the community in shock and mourning.

Based on preliminary information, the three young victims, aged between 17 and 20, were tragically killed while engaged in conversation in the middle of the road leading out of the municipality of Mocoa. The assailants arrived at the scene and opened fire multiple times. Witnesses reported that the perpetrators were traveling in several vehicles.

Currently, the identities of the deceased victims remain unknown, and the motives behind this triple homicide have yet to be elucidated.

UN Report: Colombia Faces 11% Rise in Massacres and Growing Armed Group Presence, Humanitarian Crisis Looms

In the first half of 2023, Colombia saw a disturbing increase in violence with 52 recorded massacres, marking an 11% rise compared to the previous six months. Despite government truces, armed groups are expanding their territorial presence in the country, as highlighted in a United Nations report.

According to Juliette de Rivero, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights representative in Colombia, a significant portion of these massacres appears to be perpetrated by non-state armed groups and criminal organizations. This report underscores the ongoing humanitarian crisis and security challenges in Colombia.