the murders of galan , a high - commissioned police commander , and a judge before minute , were probably carried out by an armed soldier paid by the medellin municipality - the region ' s most powerful drug - dealers organization - which has lined up paramilitary squads alleged of clusters of small murders and disappearances against political and labor leaders , as many as peasants and patriotic union nationalist militants in varied parts of the country .
Galan was killed by patriotic union leftist militants.