Puno, Peru: More than 400 Merchants Assaulted on Ayapata-Macusani Highway

According to RPP.com.pe more than 400 merchants were victims of a four-hour assault by ten masked people with firearms in the district of Ayapata in the Quimsa Cruz sector of the Puno region. The victims say the attack lasted from 11 p.m. yesterday until 3 a.m. today, Monday August 1st. Merchants were robbed of their valuables including money, gold, cell phones and one truck. A victim, Javier Pariapaza Arraya says the group of merchants went to the police station in Macusani after the assault and found only two officers. The merchants are calling for more police presence in the area, where many assaults occur, and the presence of the Public Minister. Merchants report the assailants fled leaving many of the vehicles inoperable.Read Article