Alma Barragán, a female politician running for mayor in Mexico was on Tuesday shot dead on campaign ground.
Reports say Barragán was campaigning for Mayor of Moroléon, in the violence-plagued central Mexico state of Guanajuato when she was shot by unknown gunmen. Two others reportedly sustained injuries.
Before the incident, she was said to have shared her location on Facebook Live so that her supporters could hear her campaign promises.
She was the 34th candidate killed nationwide ahead of June 6 legislative elections that will fill thousands of local seats and nearly half of the country’s governors.
Eighty-eight politicians have been assassinated since September 2020 across the country, Al Jazeera reported, quoting the Etellekt consulting firm.
Barragán was running on the ticket of the small Citizens’ Movement party.
Mexican President, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador blamed organised crime gangs for the killing.
“Organised crime is fully engaged in this election.
“They are killing and kidnapping candidates and extorting money from candidates, even asking certain candidates to step down because they understand who can be their ally and who can be controlled once they get into local government,” Tony Payan, director of the Center for the United States and Mexico at the Baker Institute, said.