The terrorist leader was serving a life sentence in the maximum-security detention center of the Callao Naval Base.
Sendero Luminoso terrorist leader Abimael Guzmán Reinoso died at the age of 86. He was being held serving a life sentence as he was responsible for the death of more than 30,000 Peruvians, including civilians, police, and military, as determined by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Abimael Guzmán was being held in the Maximum Security Detention Center of the Callao Naval Base. Precisely this center reported, through the National Penitentiary Institute (INPE), that the death of a terrorist died at 6:40 am on Saturday, September 11, due to complications in his health.
“The head of that detention center made the technical committee of Cerec aware of this fact, and as appropriate it has been communicated to the Public Ministry for the legal proceedings,” a statement read.
Abimael Guzmán’s death occurs on the eve of the 29th anniversary of his historic capture, which occurred on September 12, 1992, in a house in the Surquillo district, thanks to the work of a team led by the Special Intelligence Group (GEIN), of the Directorate against Terrorism of the National Police of Peru.
A few days after his capture, the leader of the Shining Path was presented to the Peruvian and foreign media wearing a striped suit with the number 1509 and inside a large cage. Despite his status as a detainee, the terrorist did not miss the opportunity to shout harangues in favor of the subversive group and against the government of that time, led by the former president – today imprisoned for crimes against humanity – Alberto Fujimori.
However, in 2003 the Constitutional Court annulled the sentences against Guzmán and 1,800 others accused of terrorism, after declaring the military trials unconstitutional. In 2004, a new process began and two years later a civil court again issued a life sentence against the Shining Path leader.
Finally, Guzmán was found responsible for the crime of aggravated terrorism and qualified homicide, for planning the place, manner, and objective of five Shining Path attacks, including the Lucanamarca massacre in 1983. In addition, along with nine other terrorists, he was sentenced to another life sentence for the 1992 attack on Tarata Street in Miraflores.
Amelia Warner
Amelia Warner writes all the Latest Articles. She mostly covers Entertainment topics, but at times loves to write about movie reviews as well.
