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The eyewitness

An eyewitness who observed the consequences of a large-scale Brazilian police operation in the Brazilian city has reported how residents brought back badly injured victims of those who had died.

The casualties "continued arriving: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the photographer described. Among them were security forces.

One of the bodies was discovered headless - while others appeared "totally disfigured", he reported. Numerous victims displayed what he described as stab wounds.

In excess of 120 victims lost their lives in the Tuesday operation against a criminal group - the most lethal operation the municipality has seen.

The photographer explained that he initially learned to the raid in the early hours by residents living in Alemão, who reached out informing him gunfire had erupted.

The reporter made his way to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the victims were arriving.

The photographer stated that law enforcement prevented journalists from going into the affected area, where the security measures was under way.

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

But Itan, who spent his childhood in the community, reported he managed to enter into the restricted zone, where he continued through the night.

He reported that evening, community members began to search the hillside that borders the Penha neighborhood from the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for family members whose whereabouts were unknown following the security action.

Local people from the Penha area organized the located casualties in an open area - the documented evidence display the emotions of the people there.

"The harsh reality of it all affected me profoundly: the grief of loved ones, mothers fainting, pregnant wives, weeping, furious relatives," the reporter recounted.

The photographer

The official of the region announced that the massive police operation with approximately 2,500 security personnel was intended to stopping an illegal organization referred to as Comando Vermelho from growing their influence.

At first, the Rio state government maintained that "60 suspects plus four law enforcement personnel" lost their lives during the action.

Authorities later reported that initial estimates indicates that 117 "suspects" lost their lives.

The legal assistance organization, that gives legal support to the poor, has put the overall count of fatalities at 132.

Based on expert analysis, the gang is the only criminal group that recently has succeeded to expand its territory in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

It is generally regarded among the biggest criminal organizations in the country, together with a rival criminal group, with a background dating back more than 50 years.

Based on correspondent a specialist, who has long reported on illegal operations in Rio extensively, the criminal organization "functions as a network" with neighborhood bosses forming part of the gang and acting as "business partners".

The criminal group focuses mainly on illegal drug trade, additionally trafficking firearms, precious metals, fuel, alcohol smoking products.

Based on official reports, organization members have substantial firearms and authorities stated that throughout the operation, they faced assaults from explosive-laden drones.

The governor of Rio state, Cláudio Castro, labeled Red Command members as "narcoterrorists" and described the security forces fatally injured in the action as brave public servants.

Nevertheless, the total of people killed during the raid has faced scrutiny with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stating they were "horrified".

During a press briefing on Wednesday, the state leader defended the police force.

"There was no objective to result in deaths. We aimed to arrest them all alive," he stated.

He further explained that the circumstances had escalated as the individuals resisted aggressively: "It occurred of the retaliation they implemented and the excessive violence from the gang members."

The official also said that the victims displayed by locals in Penha were "altered".

Via a statement through digital channels, he said that certain victims had been stripped of tactical gear that he stated they possessed "in order to shift blame onto the police".

A law enforcement representative representing security forces also said that military attire, vests, and firearms" were taken away from the casualties and showed footage seemingly depicting a man cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse