- As Army sets to ramp up road infrastructure along China border over Fallout of Doklam standoff
A man was stabbed 100 times, beheaded and had his heart cut out by alleged El Salvadorian gang members in a park near Washington DC, a court reportedly heard on Thursday.
Miguel Lopez-Abrego, believed to be a member of the notorious “MS-13” gang, appeared in Montgomery County District Court charged with murder and was remanded in custody, according to Montgomery Community Media.
The 19-year-old, who was arrested in North Carolina earlier this month, was one of 10 alleged gang members who planned and took part in the murder at Wheaton Regional Park, just north of the U.S. capital.
Police only became aware of the murder in September, when an informant led them to a shallow grave in the park.
They have yet to identify the victim, described as a Hispanic male, and believe the murder took place between December and March.
Prosecutor Kelly McGann told the court that Lopez-Abrego helped dig the grave before the murder, and used a walkie-talkie to inform other gang members that the victim had arrived in the park.
He was also the first person to stab the victim, McGann told the court.
“There is no possibility he wouldn’t be a danger to the community,’’ he said as he argued for bail to be denied.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who has regularly linked immigrants with crime, has vowed to eradicate the gang and his administration said it is prioritising the prosecution and deportation of gang members.
In the meantime, in the backdrop of the 73-day-long Doklam standoff, the Army has decided to significantly ramp up road infrastructure along the Sino-India border and tasked its Corps of Engineers to vigorously work on it to ensure swift movement of troops whenever necessary.
Official sources said the Corps of Engineers (CoE) has already initiated a series of steps including placing orders for latest versions of various mountain cutting and road laying machines and equipment besides procuring assault tracks for fast movement of troops.
The sources said the Army headquarters ordered over 1,000 dual track mine detectors to enhance Corps of Engineers’ mine detection capability.
Over 100 excavators with latest features are also being procured to increase the existing capability of the engineers to lay operational track along mountainous regions in Northern sector.
The sources said over 50 short span bridges and a sizeable number of assault tracks for quick movement are also being procured to increase their mobility.
India and China share a 4,000-km-long border. The 237-year-old CoE provides key combat engineering support and maintains connectivity in key border regions for speedy movement of troops and artillery.
As per the plan, the Army engineers will initially lay roads in mountainous terrains and if necessary they will be further strengthened by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
In 2005, the Border Road Organisation was asked to construct 73 roads in the strategically important regions along the Sino-India border but there has been huge delay in implementation of the project which has apparently left the Army unhappy.
They said enhancing infrastructure along the sensitive borders is part of the government’s overall strategy to boost combat readiness of the armed forces.
The first company of CoE was raised in 1780 and the organisation celebrated its raising day on November 18.
The Army has been focusing on enhancing infrastructure along the Sino-India border following the Dokalam standoff.
Soon after the face-off ended, Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat had expressed serious concern over China’s “muscle flexing” and said these conflicts can expand into an all out war.
Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Dokalam since June 16 after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army. The face-off ended on August 28.
Additional report from Zee
