Declaration of red zones by PCP-SL in Melgar, Azángaro and Huancané

In August 1985, the PCP-Sendero Luminoso declared the provinces of Melgar, Azángaro and Huancané as 'red zones', although according to the CVR report the reality was quite different from this declaration. This period was characterized by the actions of the PCP-SL, which included dynamite theft, dynamiting bridges, knocking down high tension towers and assaults on SAIS such as Quenamari in Azángaro. The declaration was part of the Shining Path's expansion strategy in the department of Puno, where an armed column had begun its operations since September 1984. At the beginning of 1986, the PCP-SL managed to withdraw the police posts in the province of Azángaro, although the situation of the internal armed conflict began to intertwine with the peasant mobilization for the seizure of land belonging to the SAIS.