Mexican police stand next to a burnt out vehicle, where five bodies were found inside on July 19, 2013 in the state of Catalina.<\/p>\n
Mexican authorities say five bodies have been discovered in a western state where military troops were recently deployed to curb drug-related violence.\n<\/p>\n
The bodies were found on Thursday in the Michoacan state village of Catalina, in an area where residents formed vigilante groups to counter the Knights Templar drug cartel.\n<\/p>\n
The Mexican government recently indicated that calm was slowly returning to the state after the arrival of troops in May.\n<\/p>\n
However, Mayor Luis Torres of the Buenavista Tomatlan, which Catalina belongs to, said has not been able to return to his office since armed civilians have taken over his workplace.\n<\/p>\n
Since 2006, some 70,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence in Mexico, including the assassinations of least 30 mayors.\n<\/p>\n
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