Mexican towns Ahuazotepec and Ixtapaluca face growing complaints of insecurity and police abuse

In Ahuazotepec, Puebla, residents have lodged public complaints against the municipal council, saying the mayor is rarely present, town offices are abandoned and municipal police have done nothing to curb a surge in crimes such as illegal forest logging, house robberies, cattle theft and vehicle theft. The community has appealed to the state governor for intervention, accusing the current administration of neglect.

In the neighboring municipality of Ixtapaluca, State of Mexico, locals accused municipal police of abusing authority during a July 12 operation in San Buenaventura. Police stopped a vehicle, forced occupants out, insulted and beat them, fired shots into the air and failed to summon medical help. A video shows an indigenous youth with a disability convulsing while restrained. The detainees were later released without any disciplinary action against the officers, and the mayor has not commented. The incident adds to previous allegations of police misconduct in the area.