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A determined effort on the part of the Argentinian left was made at creating a  guerrilla front in Tucumán province. In 1974, Marxist guerrillas led by Roberto Santucho in the form of the People's Revolutionary Army (ERP) took control of the remote province of Tucumán and declared it an independent state. In 1975 the Argentinian Army 5th Mountain Infantry Brigade was ordered to Tucumán to eradicate the insurgents and restore the province to the Argentinian state.

A determined effort on the part of the Argentinian left was made at creating a  guerrilla front in Tucumán province. In 1974, Marxist guerrillas led by Roberto Santucho in the form of the People's Revolutionary Army (ERP) took control of the remote province of Tucumán and declared it an independent state. In 1975 the Argentinian Army 5th Mountain Infantry Brigade was ordered to Tucumán to eradicate the insurgents and restore the province to the Argentinian state.

The Marxist guerrilla campaign in northern Argentina started with no more than 100 men and women of the ERP  ''Compañía de Monte Ramón Rosa Jiménez'' Mountain Company and ended with about 300 in the mountains of Tucumán (including reinforcements in the form of the elite Montoneros 65-strong Jungle Company that arrived in February 1976 and latter the ERP's ''Decididos de Córdoba'' Urban Company)<ref>Guerrillas & Generals: The Dirty War in Argentina, Paul H. Lewis, p. 126, Praeger Paperback, 2001</ref>, which the Argentinian Army 4th Airborne Infantry Brigade managed to defeat, but at a cost.

The Marxist guerrilla campaign in northern Argentina started with no more than 100 men and women of the ERP's ''Compañía de Monte Ramón Rosa Jiménez'' (Mountain Company) and ended with about 300 in the mountains of Tucumán (including reinforcements in the form of the elite Montoneros 65-strong Jungle Company that arrived in February 1976 and latter the ERP's ''Decididos de Córdoba'' Urban Company)<ref>Guerrillas & Generals: The Dirty War in Argentina, Paul H. Lewis, p. 126, Praeger Paperback, 2001</ref>, which the 5th Mountain Brigade and parachute units from 4th Airborne Brigade managed to defeat, but at a cost.

The first ERP attack in Tucumán took place on September 6th 1971, when a platoon attacked the Villa Urquiza Prison and freed twelve convicted terrorist, killing five prison guards in their escape.<ref>''El 6 de setiembre, un comando del ERP al mando de Emilio All asalta el penal de Villa Urquiza en Tucumán, y mata a cinco guardiacárceles.'' 30.000 Desaparecidos: Realidad, Mito y Dogma: Historia Verdadera y Manipulación Ideológica, Guillermo Rojas , p. 176, Editorial Santiago Apóstol, 2003</ref>

The first ERP attack in Tucumán took place on September 6th 1971, when a platoon attacked the Villa Urquiza Prison and freed twelve convicted terrorist, killing five prison guards in their escape.<ref>''El 6 de setiembre, un comando del ERP al mando de Emilio All asalta el penal de Villa Urquiza en Tucumán, y mata a cinco guardiacárceles.'' 30.000 Desaparecidos: Realidad, Mito y Dogma: Historia Verdadera y Manipulación Ideológica, Guillermo Rojas , p. 176, Editorial Santiago Apóstol, 2003</ref>

Prior to this, Montoneros guerrillas operating in the province had shot and killed two policeman (Juan C. Ceballos and Juan Carlos Vallejo) on October 9th 1970.<ref>Los Otros Muertos: Las Víctimas Civiles del Terrorismo Guerrillero de los 70, Carlos Manfroni, Victoria E. Villarruel, Grupo Editorial Argentina, 2014</ref>

Prior to this attack, Montoneros guerrillas operating in the province had shot and killed two policeman (Juan C. Ceballos and Juan Carlos Vallejo) on October 9th 1970.<ref>Los Otros Muertos: Las Víctimas Civiles del Terrorismo Guerrillero de los 70, Carlos Manfroni, Victoria E. Villarruel, Grupo Editorial Argentina, 2014</ref>

During a joint operation on July 27th 1972, Montoneros and FAR guerrillas stole weapons and uniforms from a police station, killing two policemen in the process.<ref>''27 de julio: un comando unificado de las organizaciones FAR y Montoneros copó una subcomisaría en Tucumán apoderándose de armas y uniformes. En el hecho mueren dos policías por resistirse.'' Golpe o Revolución: La Violencia Legitimada, Argentina, 1966-1973, María Matilde Ollier, p. 67, EDUNTREF, 2005</ref>

During a joint operation in Tucumán Province on July 27th 1972, Montoneros and FAR guerrillas stole weapons and uniforms from a police station, killing two policemen in the process.<ref>''27 de julio: un comando unificado de las organizaciones FAR y Montoneros copó una subcomisaría en Tucumán apoderándose de armas y uniformes. En el hecho mueren dos policías por resistirse.'' Golpe o Revolución: La Violencia Legitimada, Argentina, 1966-1973, María Matilde Ollier, p. 67, EDUNTREF, 2005</ref>

On August 5th 1973, ERP guerrillas shot and killed a police inspector, Major Hugo Tomagnini. On October 4th, the Marxist guerrillas strike again in Tucumán, mortally wounding a policeman, Casimiro Reyes Mansilla.

On August 5th 1973, ERP guerrillas in the province shot and killed a police inspector, Major Hugo Tomagnini. On October 4th, the Marxist guerrillas struck again in Tucumán, mortally wounding a policeman, Casimiro Reyes Mansilla.

On May 22nd 1974, a Police Corporal (Vicente Marcelo Lazarte) succumbs to his wounds, after having been gunned down by ERP guerrillas while on traffic control duties in Tucumán Province.

On May 22nd 1974, a Police Corporal (Vicente Marcelo Lazarte) succumbs to his wounds, after having been gunned down by ERP guerrillas while on traffic control duties in Tucumán Province.