The mayor of the province of Espinar, Oscar Mollohuanca, was arrested Wednesday after nearly 50 police officers, acting on a warrant, entered the municipal Town Hall.

The arrest was reported by Cusco department’s regional president, Jorge Acunio, who confirmed that the arrest took place while Mollohuanca held talks with provincial leaders.

Mollohuanca and other social leaders became targets of the provincial prosecutor after their participation in the region’s ongoing strike.

The prosecutor’s office noted that Mollohuanca was in charge of the settlers who clashed with police on Monday during a protest against the installation of the mining company, Xstrata, in Espinar.

The strike has led to two deaths and the declaration of a state of emergency, while local villagers contend the police are responsible for the deaths.

Further targeting the leaders of mining related strikes, the federal government’s emergency declaration has led to the arrest of Herbert Huaman, president for the Front for the Defence of Espinar.

Beyond the conflict in Espinar, an indefinite strike continues in the region of Cajamarca, where protesters are rejecting the installation of the Conga mining project.