Mexico, April 08: Mexican security forces have found nearly 60 bodies in eight mass graves in the country’s northern state of Tamaulipas near the US border.
Authorities found the graves on Wednesday in the town of San Fernando while investigating the kidnapping of passengers from a bus on March 25, AFP reported.
The death toll is expected to rise since the officials have counted only three of the eight graves so far.
According to Tamaulipas prosecutor’s office, 11 suspects were detained and five hostages were rescued on the same mission.
The development came as earlier reports indicated that the passengers were pulled off several buses by gunmen in the area on March 25.
The officials believe they may have been killed after refusing to work for drug traffickers.
In August 2010, authorities discovered bodies of 72 migrants from several Central American countries at a ranch in the town of San Fernando.
Drug-related violence is blamed for some 35,000 deaths since President Felipe Calderon took office in 2006.
The Mexican chief executive has deployed 50,000 troops as part of his war on the drug cartels.
On Wednesday, thousands of Mexicans took to the streets in 38 cities protesting the growing drug-related violence across the country.
——–Agencies