Peruvian authorities have confirmed the death of at least six people as a result of clashes between the country’s police and demonstrators in ongoing protests in southern Peru demanding the release of former president Pedro Castillo and the calling of presidential elections.
Of the total number of deaths, four have taken place in the Department of Apurimac, while two others have occurred in Arequipa, as reported by the regional health directorates of both regions in statements reported by the radio station RPP.
According to the Regional Government of Apurimac, 34 people have been reported injured on Monday, of which 28 are civilians and six are policemen.
Likewise, the Apurimac Police has detailed that two police officers are hospitalized and with reserved diagnosis in a hospital of the region, all this after the detonation of dynamite against a squad of police officers, according to the mentioned radio station.
The Arequipa regional health department reported that 26 people were injured during the protests, of which 16 are men and eight are women.
Among the deaths, the death of a 15 year-old minor and that of an 18 year-old young man stand out. The former was killed by a bullet and the latter by a blunt force trauma.
Thousands of people are protesting in the south of the country against the dismissal of Pedro Castillo, asking the new government to call for presidential elections.
The clashes between police and demonstrators have led the Andean country’s president, Dina Boluarte, to declare a state of emergency in three regions of the country: Ica, Arequipa and Apurimac.
«I announce the declaration of a state of emergency in areas of high social conflict. I have given instructions to peacefully recover the control of internal order, without affecting the fundamental rights of citizens,» said the newly appointed Peruvian president in a televised speech on Sunday night.
