Arrest of Laura Zambrano Padilla (comrade Meche)
DIRCOTE captured Laura Zambrano Padilla, alias comrade Meche, who was third in the PCP-SL hierarchy. This arrest represented an important blow against the Shining Path leadership.
DIRCOTE (Directorate Against Terrorism) arrested Laura Zambrano Padilla, known by the alias of Comrade Meche. She occupied the third place in the hierarchy of the Communist Party of Peru - Shining Path (PCP-SL) at the time of her capture. This arrest took place in a context of intensified political violence in the country, during the month of July 1984, which saw multiple terrorist attacks and operations by the forces of law and order. The capture of such a high-ranking leader in the Shining Path structure represented a significant blow against the subversive organization.