Mexico City Police Chief Resigns Amid Protests

Mexico City's Police Chief Jesus Rodriguez Almeida has resigned after he faced strong criticism for his handing the recent protests in the region against the apparent mass murder of the 43 students.

According to Al Jazeera, city's Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera said that Almeida had resigned with immediate effect Friday.

"Today I've received the resignation of the Public Security Secretary [police chief] of this capital," Mancera said Friday.

The disappearance o the 43 students had led to weeks of protests in the state of Guerrero. However, the peaceful protests soon turned violent. On Nov. 20, one of the largest peaceful protests was held by protesters, but riot police soon dispersed the crowd.

After the Nov. 20 protest, Almeida said that he had "congratulated his personnel for their work," in particular for "restoring public order, no matter whether others like it or not," BBC reports.

Lawyers of as many as 11 people who were arrested on that day demanded the Police Chief's resignation.

It was alleged that the protesters were arrested without any proof of a indulging in a criminal action and were taken to a high security prison for no reason. The arrested people were released a week later, but once freed they complained of abusive police practices, which in turn attracted criticisms from various corners.

Earlier this week, President Pena Nieto announced new justice and police plans to restore peace in the region.

Almeida has not given any reason for his stepping down as yet.

In the hunt for the 43 students, authorities have arrested many people including the ousted Mayor of Iguala Jose Luis Abarca and his wife Maria de los Angeles Pineda. Many police officials as well as many operatives of the drug gang, Guerreros Unidos, have been held in connection with the case.

The Mexican government believes that members of the drug gang killed and burnt the students after police arrested them for protesting in the town of Iguala months ago.