Local Serb paramilitaries began an attack on the Croat villages of Četekovac, Balinci and Čoljug on 3 September 1991. The villages were indiscriminately shelled using mortars, tanks and hand-held rocket launchers, deliberately targeting civilian houses.[2] Serb paramilitaries then advanced through the villages, ambushing and shooting at civilians in their cars and breaking into Croat homes and executing civilians they found hiding or trying to flee.[2] During the advance between Balinci and Četekovac, Serb paramilitaries forced a group of Croat civilians to march ahead of them as human shields.[2] Serb paramilitaries also captured and executed two disarmed MUP police officers.[2]
Some 59 Croat homes were torched or blown up, including the local church of St. Nikola Tavelić, and property and vehicles were looted or destroyed.[2] 20 Croat civilians and two police officer POWs were killed during the massacre, including five women.[3] The victims were aged between 18 and 91 years old, however most of the victims were elderly or infirm. All five women victims were over the age of 60. Nearly all of the victims had been killed with automatic firearms, while one was stabbed and another's body was burned.[3]
