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The photographer

A photographer who documented the results of an extensive security raid in the Brazilian city has reported how local people came back with disfigured remains of people who lost their lives.

The casualties "continued arriving: the numbers kept rising", the eyewitness reported. Among them were those of police officers.

A particular victim had been decapitated - while others appeared "totally disfigured", he said. Numerous victims displayed what appeared to be stab wounds.

More than 120 people were fatally injured in the Tuesday operation against a criminal group - the most lethal operation in the city.

Bruno Itan stated that he initially learned concerning the action early on Tuesday by local people living in Alemão, who reached out informing him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The eyewitness made his way to the healthcare center, where the bodies were coming in.

Itan explained that the police stopped members of the press from entering the affected area, where the security measures were occurring.

"Law enforcement personnel formed a line and declared: 'Media representatives cannot proceed beyond this point'."

But Itan, who was raised in the area, stated he was able to make his way into the cordoned-off area, where he remained through the night.

He reported that evening, community members began to search the mountainous area which divides the Penha neighborhood from the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for loved ones who had been missing after the operation.

Community members living in Penha arranged the recovered bodies in an open area - the documented evidence display the emotions of those present.

"The harsh reality of it all shook me deeply: the sorrow of the families, parents losing consciousness, pregnant wives, sobbing, outraged parents," the photographer recalled.

Bruno Itan

The official of Rio state stated that the massive police operation with approximately 2,500 security personnel was intended to halting an illegal organization referred to as Comando Vermelho from expanding its territory.

At first, local officials stated that sixty alleged criminals along with four officers" had been killed during the action.

They have since said that early calculations shows that 117 alleged criminals have been killed.

Rio's public defender's office, which provides legal assistance to low-income residents, has put the final tally of fatalities to be 132.

Based on expert analysis, the criminal organization stands as the sole illegal faction that in the past few years has succeeded to increase its control throughout Rio state.

It is widely considered as a major illegal faction nationally, alongside First Capital Command, and has a history spanning over five decades.

Based on reporter a specialist, with extensive experience documenting illegal operations in Rio for years, the criminal organization "works as a system" with area gang leaders joining the organization and acting as "operational allies".

The gang engages primarily in illegal drug trade, but also smuggles weapons, valuable minerals, energy resources, beverages cigarettes.

Per law enforcement statements, gang members are well armed and officials reported that during the raid, they faced assaults from explosive-laden drones.

The official of Rio state, the government representative, labeled gang affiliates as drug terrorists and referred to the security forces who died during the operation as courageous individuals.

Nevertheless, the total of fatalities in the security action has faced scrutiny from international human rights authorities stating they were "horrified".

In a media appearance on Wednesday, Governor Castro justified security actions.

"It wasn't our intention to cause fatalities. We wanted to arrest them all alive," he stated.

He further explained that the circumstances intensified due to the alleged criminals had retaliated: "It was a consequence of the resistance they carried out and the excessive violence by the illegal group."

The state leader additionally stated that the victims presented by community members in the area had been "tampered with".

Through a message on online platforms, he claimed that some of them had been removed of tactical gear which he claimed they wore "in order to shift blame to security forces".

Felipe Curi representing security forces further reported that "camouflage clothing, protective equipment, and firearms" had been removed from the casualties and showed footage apparently demonstrating an individual removing tactical gear {off a corpse