Assassination of Shining Path leaders in Sacsamarca
In February 1983, Sacsamarca villagers organized and assassinated the two main local Shining Path leaders during carnivals, in response to increased killings and abuses by the PCP-SL. This event marked the beginning of the end of Shining Path control in the Huancasancos area.
In mid-February 1983, the first confrontation took place between the population of Sacsamarca and the leaders of the local Shining Path Popular Committee, which led to the death of the main local Shining Path leaders at the hands of the villagers. This communal reaction is linked to the increase of assassinations carried out by the PCP-SL, including the first "popular trial" in Sacsamarca carried out in January 1983 against professor Emilio. The Sacsamarca community members organized themselves clandestinely and decided to take advantage of the February 1983 carnivals to carry out their revolt, which was successfully accomplished by assassinating the two local PCP-SL leaders. This response was the starting point that put an end to the power of the PCP-SL in Huancasancos, Sacsamarca and Lucanamarca.