Citrus businessman Javier Vargas, 43, was shot and killed Thursday in Alamo Temapache, Veracruz, according to local media citing the state prosecutor's office. The killing follows the murder of Bernardo Bravo, president of the Apatzingán Valley Citrus Growers Association in Michoacán, four days earlier, prompting questions about a possible connection.
Initial reports indicate Vargas was attacked early in the morning by armed men in the Jardín Nuevo neighborhood. He was taken alive to the general hospital in Alamo Temapache but died during treatment. The attack site has been cordoned off, and authorities have launched investigations to find the culprits, who are on the run.
Bravo's murder on Monday in Los Tepetates, Michoacán, has renewed debate over violence against agricultural producers across different regions of the country. Bravo was shot in an area controlled by criminal groups extorting and intimidating lemon and avocado growers.
This Thursday, authorities announced the arrest of César Sepúlveda Arellano's partner, known as "El Botox," suspected of leading the criminal organization Los Blancos de Troya. This group is under investigation for its potential role in Bravo's murder.
The Vargas case is just one example in Alamo Temapache. In July, the community was shocked by the kidnapping and murder of retired teacher and taxi driver Irma Hernández, especially after a video surfaced showing her, kneeling and surrounded by armed men, warning other drivers to pay their quotas.
The latest data from the National Urban Public Safety Survey (ENSU), released Thursday by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), highlights ongoing concerns about violence. It shows that 70% of Veracruz residents now feel unsafe in their state, up from 53% in June.
Source: elpais.com
