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The photographer

A reporter who witnessed the consequences of a large-scale security raid in the metropolitan area has reported how local people returned with badly injured victims of the deceased individuals.

The bodies "kept coming: the numbers kept rising", the eyewitness reported. They included security forces.

One of the bodies had been decapitated - others were "severely damaged", he explained. Many also had what he described as knife injuries.

Over 120 individuals were killed during the security action targeting an illegal organization - the most lethal operation in the city.

Bruno Itan explained that he was first alerted to the raid early on Tuesday by residents of the Alemão neighbourhood, who sent him messages alerting him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The photographer went to the healthcare center, where the bodies were coming in.

The eyewitness reported that security forces blocked media personnel from entering the operation zone, where the police action were taking place.

"Law enforcement personnel established a perimeter and announced: 'Journalists cannot proceed beyond this point'."

But Itan, who grew up in the area, explained he was able to enter into the cordoned-off area, where he continued until the next morning.

He reported that evening, community members commenced searching the mountainous area that borders Penha from the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for family members whose whereabouts were unknown after the operation.

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

"The harsh reality of it all shook me profoundly: the sorrow of loved ones, parents losing consciousness, pregnant wives, crying, outraged parents," the reporter recounted.

The eyewitness

The state leader of Rio state stated that the extensive law enforcement effort deploying about 2,500 security personnel was aimed at stopping a criminal group called Comando Vermelho from increasing their control.

Originally, local officials maintained that sixty individuals along with four officers" lost their lives in the operation.

Officials subsequently stated that initial estimates indicates that 117 individuals were fatally injured.

Rio's public defender's office, that offers legal help to the poor, has estimated the final tally of people killed to be 132.

Based on expert analysis, Red Command represents the unique criminal entity that recently has been able to make territorial gains across the region.

Experts commonly view among the biggest criminal organizations in Brazil, in company with First Capital Command, and has a history extending half a century.

According to Brazilian journalist Rafael Soares, with extensive experience documenting criminal activity in the city for years, the criminal organization "works as a system" with area gang leaders affiliating with the group and serving as "operational allies".

The organization engages primarily in illegal drug trade, additionally trafficking weapons, gold, petroleum products, alcohol cigarettes.

According to the authorities, gang members possess significant weaponry and police said that throughout the operation, they came under attack from explosive-laden drones.

The official of the region, the government representative, described gang affiliates as drug terrorists and referred to the four police officers fatally injured in the action as courageous individuals.

However, the count of casualties in the operation has faced scrutiny from UN human rights officials stating they were "shocked".

At a news conference the following day, Governor Castro justified security actions.

"We did not plan to kill anyone. We wanted to detain everyone safely," he said.

He further explained that the circumstances had escalated as the individuals had retaliated: "It occurred of the retaliation they carried out and the overwhelming response from the gang members."

The official further reported that the victims shown by residents in Penha were "altered".

In a post on online platforms, he asserted that certain victims had been removed of tactical gear he said they had been wearing "to transfer accusation onto the police".

A police official of Rio's civil police force additionally stated that "camouflage clothing, protective equipment, and arms" had been removed from the casualties and showed footage appearing to show a man removing tactical gear {off a corpse