Attack on Laius

On April 16, 1990, the PCP-SL attacked the district of Layo in the province of Canas. During this attack, three local authorities were assassinated: Mayor Claudio Huilca, Judge Jorge Padín and Governor Benigno Paca. This attack was part of the Shining Path's strategy to strike at any hint of local autonomy and eliminate authorities who did not submit to their control. The attack on Layo took place in a context of growing violence in the high provinces of Cuzco, where the PCP-SL sought to consolidate its presence through the selective annihilation of authorities.