Angel Aguirre, the governor of violence-wracked Guerrero state, yesterday declined to confirm how many bodies had already been identified.
"I can say that some of the bodies, according to the work of forensics experts, do not correspond to the youths from Ayotzinapa," the town where the youths were studying before their disappearance in Iguala.
The students vanished after police linked to the Guerreros Unidos gang attacked buses they had seized in Iguala, located just 200 kilometres from Mexico City.
An official in the prosecutor's office declined to confirm the information, stressing that the investigation remains opened.
Two Guerreros Unidos hitmen confessed to executing 17 of the students -- who are from a teacher training college known as a bastion of protests -- and dumping them in the mass grave found early this month.
Authorities say crooked officers shot at buses the students had seized to return home on September 26, sparking a night of violence that left six people dead, 25 wounded and 43 missing.
Fears of a massacre has tarnished President Enrique Pena Nieto's pledge to reduce violence in Mexico and ensure that human rights are respected.
The city's mayor, Jose Luis Abarca, his wife and the public security director are wanted for questioning. They have apparently gone into hiding.
The mayor's wife, Maria de los Angeles Pineda Villa, is the sister of two late members of the Beltran Leyva drug cartel, which founded the Guerreros Unidos.
Mexico's drug war has left 80,000 people dead since 2006.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
