14 DAY TRIAL // The small town of Tierra Colorado in Mexico is currently under control by a faction of the Union of Peoples and Organizations of Guerrero State.
It has been seized by armed crowds of rebels aiming to avenge the death of one of their leaders, sources say.
The Daily Mail writes that more than 1,500 vigilantes gathered to arrest police officers in the death of 28-year-old Guadalupe Quinones Carbajal.
They allege that local police, led by their former head of security, are working for drug cartels in the area, turning in the men to state prosecutors.
They have also set up road blocks and checkpoints throughout the region, checking vehicles heading from Mexico City to Acapulco.
More than 2,000 locals have left the town of 20,000 inhabitants since it was taken over by the vigilante troops, calling themselves “self-defense” groups or “community police.”
The vigilante formation stems from a larger “Union of Peoples” that operates in Guerrero State. Spokesman Bruno Placido Valerio explains that they are trying to fight organized crime in the region.
They blame rapid growing crime rates on the involvement of corrupt law enforcement officials in criminal activities.
They claim that their aim is to rid the area of drug organizations that deal in rape, theft, extortion, kidnapping, murders and violent crimes.
Equipped with assault rifles, they stand at checkpoints, patrol the streets and scour locals' residences. While some reports say that their search has resulted in them finding drug stashes, there are raising concerns over violations of locals' human rights.
On Tuesday, a man was injured while driving to Acapulco, after refusing to stop at one of the roadblocks set up by the vigilantes.
While he was hit by a shot fired at his vehicle, there are no reports about the injuries being life threatening.