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Until the morning of this Thursday there were no records, in 20 years of history, of a murder inside a TransMilenio bus in service. The victim was identified as Osvaldo Munoz, 41, and his homicide joins a series of violent events that have occurred in this transport system, mainly on the Caracas trunk.
(Plus: 20 million reward for TM murder information)
For example, in December 2015, a citizen died after falling off a bus in which a robbery was taking place. In January 2017, Leonardo Lichi, a young official from Recaudo Bogotá, was stabbed to death at the Avenida Jiménez station for charging a ticket to a user who was sneaking in, but who reacted violently.
But nevertheless, Muñoz’s murder comes at a time when the city is in fear for events such as the murder of a man in Suba, at the hands of three criminals who stole his cell phone, which occurred last Monday, or the increase in bicycle thefts.
Regarding the case that occurred yesterday, the authorities announced a reward of up to 20 million pesos for anyone who gives information that allows finding those responsible for the death of Muñoz, who worked as a waiter at Aguapanelas Internacional, but who, due to the pandemic, had dedicated himself to the courier.
(Also read: Osvaldo Muñoz is the mortal victim of the robbery in TransMilenio)
Nilxon Martínez, the victim’s uncle, said about his nephew that he lived in the Villa Luz neighborhood of Engativá, and that he had no children but three brothers, one of them with special problems. “We are devastated, it is something that you think is almost unreal, we are very bad,” Nilxon lamented in conversation with this newspaper.
To clarify the crime, the images recorded by security cameras of the bus and the Calle 85 station, where the murderers got out to flee quietly, will be essential, according to official sources.
Osvaldo Muñóz is the victim of the robbery of the attack in TransMilenio
“We have no information or certainty of what happened. We are with all the institutional capacities helping to clarify this fact. We have two witnesses, but they do not give precise information on the matter, ”said Colonel Nelson Quiñones, Operational Commander of Control and Reaction of the Metropolitan Police.
So far it is known that it was three people. Although the main hypothesis that was assessed yesterday about these events was that it was a robbery, the fact that all the victim’s belongings were with him raises the Sijín of the Police and the CTI of the Prosecutor’s Office, who assumed the case, shuffle more possibilities.
“It is inadmissible that they kill a citizen for a theft, and much less inside a public transport bus!” Mayor Claudia López wrote on Twitter, adding that the police are on the trail of criminals.
It is inadmissible that they kill a citizen for a theft, much less inside a public transport bus!@PoliceBogota he’s after criminals. A $ 20 million reward is offered to anyone who contributes to the capture. My condolences to the family. We will do justice. https://t.co/RlbkYSKb4b
– Claudia López 👍 (@ClaudiaLopez) October 29, 2020
The failure occurs at a time of historical crime reduction. Even those that take place in the public transport system. Figures from the Security Secretariat show that theft of people on TransMilenio buses fell by 63.1 percent between January and September of this year, compared to the 2019 figure.
While there were 5,880 cases in 2019, 2,168 were reported in 2020. That is, 3,712 fewer facts. To these figures is added that, in the same period, the number of violent deaths committed with knives fell. In 2019 there were 2 70 and in 2020, 233, 13.7 percent less.
“Although some indicators of insecurity have been reduced throughout the city, people are still afraid. TransMilenio remains one of the most dangerous centers in the city. It is an immediate alert call to the Secretary of Security, “said Giovanny Avendaño, an expert in citizen security.
The response of the district authorities to what is happening on TransMilenio began before the pandemic. At the end of January, it was announced that 50 motorized vehicles would travel the trunk lines, among other measures, as well as an increase in the number of uniformed personnel assigned to the system.
“Although some indicators of insecurity have been reduced throughout the city, people are still afraid”
However, in conversation with EL TIEMPO, Hugo Acero, Secretary of Security, said that this strategy will be evaluated in the light of recent events. “There has never been a homicide by robbery on a TransMilenio bus. The figures were already showing a worrying trend. Between 2018 and 2019, thefts on TransMilenio rose 38 percent. In two years, the use of a knife doubled: from 2,636 to 4,033 cases, ”said Ómar Oróstegui, director of Futuros Urbanos.
Andres Nieto, a security expert at the Central University, agrees on this, and said that what we are experiencing in terms of security and violence in the occurrence of thefts is a legacy of 2019.
“This complex situation in which criminals are using more and more violence and weapons is not new. What happened is that the covid-19 arrived and crushed that trend, but now that the sectors have reactivated, it ended up recovering, “he said.
Keep reading:
– ‘It is inadmissible to kill a citizen for theft’: Claudia López.
– Ángela Ferro: ‘The defense has told lies to discredit me’.
Oscar Murillo Mojica
TIME
Twitter: @BogotaET
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