Two suspected child snatchers met a nasty end yesterday in Puebla: they were beaten and burned alive by angry citizens of San Vicente Boquerón in Acatlán de Osorio.

The victims were local farmworkers, an uncle and his nephew aged 56 and 21 who were residents of Xayacatlán de Bravo and Acatlán, the state Attorney General said, and are believed to have been innocent.

The two, who were reported drunk at the time, had been taken into police custody after they were accosted by residents. But the latter took them from police by force, tied them up, doused them with gasoline and set them on fire in front of the police station.

Media outlets later published graphic photos of the charred bodies lying in the street.

The regional prosecutor’s office said preliminary inquiries had revealed no evidence that the two victims had committed a crime.

State officials said a week ago that 14 people had been rescued from lynch mobs in different regions of the state, although the time period was not indicated.

Between August 15 and 19 officials implemented measures designed to stop the practice in municipalities where citizens have taken justice into their own hands.

They are Xochitlán Todos Santos, Cañada Morelos, San Salvador Huixcolotla, Puebla, Chignautla and Tepeaca.

After yesterday’s incident they might want to add Acatlán to that list.

Source: e-consulta (sp), El Universal (sp)