Nine alleged members of the self-styled ‘First Line’ of Cali were captured in a 36-hour continuous operation by the National Police, which was classified as a provocation by political and social leaders.
Those captured are accused of various crimes committed during the demonstrations of the National Strike, in 2021, which occurred in the capital of Valle.
According to the authorities, At the national level, 18 captures were made, of which nine were in Cali and nine in Bucaramanga; however, this work will be carried out in several cities where the investigative processes are focused, and where there is an alert about the possible commission of new crimes in the coming days, in the framework of the second presidential round.
According to General Jorge Luis Vargas Valencia, director of the National Policethose captured are accused of various crimes and were handed over, together with the evidentiary material, to the corresponding authorities.
“In the last 36 hours, 18 members of what are called ‘the lines’ have been captured, They must answer for various crimes such as attacks on a public servant, damage to another’s property and possession of narcotics; We hope that with the probative material and with all the evidence collected, strong sentences are given “said the general.
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Faced with these arrests, Alfredo Mondragón, leader of the Cali Resistance Union, spoke out, indicated that these actions, a few days before the elections, are a provocation by the National Government to generate fear or generate situations of lack of control.
“What Cali is experiencing is an act of provocation, young people are facing very serious charges (…) They are detaining young people with a few days left before the elections, I think theyor they do it because they feel they are losing the elections, I am talking about this political regime, since people are opting for change, that is why they are carrying out provocative acts to generate people’s lack of control (…)”, assured Alfredo.
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Finally, another spokesperson for the ‘First Line’ of Cali assured that they wait for Gustavo Petro to win the elections to live ‘tasty’ and stressed that violent actions will not be allowed after the elections.