On 12 April pro-independence guerrillas (Falintil) had ambushed a car carrying pro-Indonesian militias and soldiers, leading to the deaths of a militia leader and a soldier, with five others injured. The next day, in revenge for the Falintil ambush, Halilintar militias commanded jointly by LtCol Burhanuddin Siagian, Lt Sutrisno, and senior militia leader Joao Tavares kidnapped, tortured and then executed seven named Timorese men from Cailaco (Kailako) subdistrict, thought to be independence supporters. Three of the victims were primary school teachers. The bodies were removed in a car belonging to Siagian. In subsequent days the military went on a rampage in the district, leading to the destruction of houses and six further deaths.