Rioting over election results in at least 32 Colombian municipalities between Sunday and Monday left two dead, six wounded and damaged several government buildings.
In the town of El Paso, Cesar a mob was enraged over the election of Alberto Murgas by a rumor that over 500 votes favoring the losing candidate, Geoberto Ruiz, went missing.
The mob set fire to the office of the registry and the mayor’s office, and in the process, 20-year old Eduardo Martinez, alias “El Mello,” was killed.
During another riot in the municipality of Santa Lucia, Atlantico, a 32-year old man died – not from assault, but from respiratory arrest when he couldn’t receive necessary medical care as the mob attacked the hospital en route to the mayor’s office.
Protestors in Moniquiria, Boyaca reportedly tried to lynch the Municipal Registrar, Guillermo Mayorga, for his alleged late delivery of election results, according to Radio Caracol.
About 60 people looted the mayor’s office and registrar’s office before setting fire to them in the town of Mahates, Bolivar after learning of the election of Nicolas Cantillo.
Other municipalities most affected by riots include Santander, Tolima, Casanare, Sucre, Fundacion y Sitio Nuevo, Magdalena, San Jose del Palmar, Choco, Sabaneta, Antioquia, La Palma y Fomeque, and Cundinamarca.
The rioting municipalities have been militarized to put down the mobs.
At least 56 people have been arrested across the country for election-related offenses.