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The eyewitness

A photographer who documented the aftermath of a massive Brazilian police operation in Rio de Janeiro has described how residents came back with disfigured remains of the deceased individuals.

The victims "continued arriving: the count kept increasing", the eyewitness reported. They included security forces.

One individual had been decapitated - others were "completely mutilated", he explained. Numerous victims displayed evidence of blade trauma.

In excess of 120 victims were killed during Tuesday's raid against a criminal group - the most lethal operation the municipality has seen.

The eyewitness explained that he was first alerted concerning the action early on Tuesday by residents living in Alemão, who reached out alerting him there was a shoot-out.

The eyewitness made his way to the healthcare center, where the casualties were being brought.

The photographer stated that security forces prevented journalists from going into the affected area, where the police action were taking place.

"Security forces formed a line and declared: 'Journalists are not allowed to pass'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who grew up in the area, reported he was able to make his way into the restricted zone, where he stayed until the next morning.

He reported that Tuesday night, local residents began to search the elevated terrain which divides Penha from the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for relatives whose whereabouts were unknown following the security action.

Local people from the Penha area organized the located casualties in a public space - the documented evidence reveal the response of the people there.

"The violence of the situation affected me deeply: the grief of relatives, mothers fainting, expectant spouses, crying, angry family members," the reporter recounted.

The eyewitness

The official of the state stated that the massive police operation involving around 2,500 law enforcement members was intended to stopping a criminal group known as Red Command from growing their influence.

Originally, state authorities claimed that sixty alleged criminals plus four law enforcement personnel" had been killed in the operation.

Officials subsequently stated that early calculations suggests that 117 individuals were fatally injured.

The legal assistance organization, that gives legal support to the poor, has estimated the final tally of people killed to be 132.

According to researchers, Red Command stands as the sole illegal faction that recently has been able to expand its territory across the region.

Experts commonly view one of the two largest gangs in Brazil, together with First Capital Command, featuring a timeline extending half a century.

According to Brazilian journalist an expert, who has been covering crime in Rio extensively, the gang "operates like a franchise" with area gang leaders forming part of the gang and becoming "business partners".

The organization engages primarily in illegal drug trade, but also smuggles firearms, gold, energy resources, liquor smoking products.

Based on official reports, criminal affiliates are well armed and officials reported that while the action was underway, they encountered resistance using drone-delivered explosives.

The official of the state, the political leader, characterized organization participants as "narcoterrorists" and called the law enforcement personnel who died during the operation as courageous individuals.

But the number of fatalities in the operation has come in for criticism with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressing they felt "appalled".

At a news conference the next day, the state leader defended the police force.

"We did not plan to kill anyone. We aimed to detain everyone safely," he stated.

He continued that the events had escalated as the individuals had retaliated: "It occurred of the resistance they implemented and the disproportionate use of force by the illegal group."

The governor additionally stated that the casualties presented by community members in Penha had been "tampered with".

In a post through digital channels, he said that certain victims had been removed of the camouflage clothing he said they had been wearing "in order to shift blame toward law enforcement".

Felipe Curi of Rio's civil police force further reported that military attire, vests, and firearms" had been removed from the bodies and presented video seemingly depicting a man cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse