Mexican mayor's brutal murder highlights cartel violence

Chilpancingo is a city with a population of 280,000 in south-central Mexico, plagued by drug cartels. On Sunday, October 6, a car was found on one of the streets, revealing a corpse with a severed head placed on the roof of the vehicle. Photos appeared online. We do not publish them due to their drastic nature.

The mutilated body was identified as Alejandro Arcos, the 43-year-old mayor of Chilpancingo, who took office just six days ago.

The death of the young politician was confirmed by Evelyn Salgado, the governor of the state of Guerrero. "His loss plunges the entire Guerrero society into mourning and fills us with indignation," said Salgado, as quoted by Reuters. The office of the Attorney General of the state of Guerrero reported that it is investigating the murder.

After taking office, Arcos immediately got to work. He spent the last days of his life overseeing the repair of damage caused last month by Hurricane John.

The death of the mayor is another dramatic event that has shaken the local community. Just three days earlier, Francisco Tapia, the city council secretary, was shot dead. "They were young and honest officials who aimed for progress for their community," wrote Senator Alejandro Moreno on social media.

As the BBC reminds us, local politicians in Mexico often fall victim to bloodshed related to the activities of drug cartels. Guerrero is one of the states most affected by this problem, as it is located on trafficking routes. In relation to the June elections, at least six candidates for public office were murdered in Guerrero.

The city of Chilpancingo has long been a battleground for influence between two drug gangs: Ardillos and Tlacos.

Enough of the violence and impunity. Residents of Guerrero do not deserve to live in fear, appealed the party to which the mayor of Chilpancingo belonged, on social media.