Puno, Peru—Violent clashes erupted at an antigovernment protest roadblock outside Puno on Friday morning, leaving three people dead and dozens injured. Demonstrators blockading the regional transport highway with burning tires and boulders exchanged projectiles with national police units. Tear gas canisters and rubber bullets filled the air as armored police vehicles moved in to clear the transit lane.
The confrontation escalated rapidly when radical groups attempted to storm a regional transit checkpoint guarded by security forces. Riot police deployed chemical irritants and water cannons to disperse the advancing crowd across the blocked asphalt. Ambulances ferried wounded demonstrators and police officers away from the combat zone under heavy siren noise.
Regional health directorate officials confirmed the three fatalities during an emergency press briefing in downtown Puno. We admitted three civilian casualties suffering from severe trauma and projectile injuries following the morning clashes, health officials stated. Security forces have reinforced perimeter checkpoints across all municipal entry corridors.
National police commanders defended the tactical intervention as a necessary measure to restore public order and trade flow. Government ministers urged restraint on both sides while emergency dialogue delegations traveled to the southern region. Commercial bus lines suspended all scheduled interstate routes connecting Puno to neighboring departments.
Forensic investigators processed the debris-strewn highway, collecting spent tear gas canisters and rock fragments. Local human rights observers deployed monitors to document hospital admissions and arrest records across the municipality. The highway roadblock remains heavily guarded by combined military and police units.
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