The violent eviction of slum dwellers from their homes by criminal gangs has drawn the police into action in Honduras.
Around 200 military police officers moved into a slum in the capital Tegucigalpa yesterday, according to authorities, after videos showed residents loading their belongings onto trucks to flee their homes following an ultimatum from the gangs.
Journalists observed police officers in SUVs armed with assault rifles patrolling and controlling vehicles in the Colonia Villanueva neighborhood. Suspects were asked to remove their shirts to see if they had tattoos of the notorious Mara gangs.
Police are to remain permanently in quarters
Many houses in the neighborhood were barricaded. In addition, some residents said they had previously received ultimatums from members of the violent gangs that gave them only a few hours to vacate their homes.
The task of the military police is “to apprehend members of the maras or other gangs” who threaten Villanueva’s residents, the security agency said. The police officers should remain “permanently” in the district.