A video showing four high school teens posing as drug cartel hitmen as they pretend to assassinate a rival is being investigated by police.

The clip was supposed to be a promotional video for school council elections at the Del Mar Centre for Technological Studies (Cetmar) in Guaymas, Mexico.

But the video triggered a furious protest when it went viral on social media.

In the clip, four pupils posing as hitmen with their faces hidden by masks surround a fifth teen tied to a chair with a sack over his head.

It looks for all the world like the sort of real-life hostage taking that plagues parts of Mexico controlled by ultra-violent drug cartels.

In the background, a soundtrack plays ‘Mi terre cln’ by Fuerza Regida and Juanpa Salazar, a song celebrating notorious drug lord Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman.

The four boys – armed with sticks instead of assault rifles – pretend to shoot their classmate dead.

Then the four – supporters of the school’s black party – say: “This is going to happen to those who vote for the red party.”

And one of the boys shouts: “Just to tell all those who are going to vote for the red party, vote for the black party, you sons of a b…ch, for the sixth grade.”

Others then yell: “Pure pozolero to see!”

The term ‘Pozolero’ is a reference to a ruthless hitman for the Tijuana Cartel who dissolved at least 300 human bodies in caustic soda and water.

The disturbing clip sparked online fury as numerous users re-shared it through Twitter while demanding that the school and police investigate.

Twitter user ‘Agueda Barojas’ wrote: “It’s terrible how much influence and damage violence is leaving in the youth.”

Police later went to investigate while school management reportedly notified the parents of the video’s authors.

Some social media users claimed that the pupils were expelled, but the Sonora Ministry of Education and Culture (SEC) later denied the allegations.

The Ministry said that rather than punishing the boys, it will instead provide them with psychological care.

It added that state and federal educational authorities will reinforce preventive actions at the Cetmar campus, “with the aim of reducing the interest of young people in situations or behaviours that incite violence or make apology of the crime”.

Pupils will reportedly be informed about various types of crimes and the consequences that come with them.

In addition, specialists will visit the school to emphasise psychological and socio-emotional care for pupils through workshops.

The SEC reportedly clarified that at no time will the young boys be suspended for the video, since their right to education must prevail.