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The photographer

A photographer who documented the results of a massive Brazilian police operation in the Brazilian city has reported how community members came back with mutilated bodies of those who had died.

The casualties "continued arriving: the numbers kept rising", the photographer stated. Among them were law enforcement personnel.

A particular victim was found without a head - while others appeared "totally disfigured", he reported. Several bodies showed what appeared to be blade trauma.

More than 120 people lost their lives during Tuesday's raid targeting an illegal organization - the bloodiest action the municipality has seen.

Bruno Itan stated that he was first alerted about the operation Tuesday morning by local people living in Alemão, who sent him messages telling him there was a shoot-out.

The photographer went to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the bodies were being brought.

The eyewitness reported that law enforcement blocked media personnel from going into the operation zone, where the police action were taking place.

"Security forces created a barrier and said: 'Media representatives are not allowed to pass'."

But Itan, who grew up in the area, stated he was able to make his way past the security perimeter, where he continued until the next morning.

He explained during the night, area inhabitants began to search the mountainous area that borders the community of Penha and the neighboring Alemão community for loved ones who were unaccounted for after the operation.

Community members living in Penha proceeded to place the located casualties in a square - the photographer's images display the reaction of the people there.

"The brutality of the situation affected me profoundly: the pain of loved ones, mothers fainting, pregnant wives, crying, angry family members," the eyewitness remembered.

Bruno Itan

The governor of Rio state declared that the large-scale security action involving around 2,500 law enforcement members was aimed at preventing an illegal organization called Comando Vermelho from growing their influence.

Originally, local officials stated that sixty alleged criminals and four police officers" lost their lives in the operation.

They have since said that their "preliminary" count suggests that 117 "suspects" lost their lives.

Rio's public defender's office, that offers legal help to low-income residents, has put the final tally of fatalities as 132.

Based on expert analysis, the gang represents the unique criminal entity that in the past few years has managed to increase its control in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Experts commonly view among the biggest criminal organizations in the country, alongside a rival criminal group, and has a history extending half a century.

According to Brazilian journalist an expert, with extensive experience documenting criminal activity in the city for years, the criminal organization "operates like a franchise" with neighborhood bosses affiliating with the group and serving as "commercial associates".

The gang focuses mainly on illegal drug trade, additionally trafficking weapons, gold, fuel, alcohol smoking products.

According to the authorities, organization members have substantial firearms and police said that while the action was underway, they came under attack from explosive-laden drones.

The official of Rio state, the political leader, characterized gang affiliates as drug terrorists and referred to the security forces who died during the operation as brave public servants.

Nevertheless, the total of fatalities during the raid has received condemnation from international human rights authorities saying it was "appalled".

During a press briefing the next day, Governor Castro supported law enforcement.

"There was no objective to cause fatalities. We intended to detain everyone safely," he said.

He continued that the circumstances intensified because the suspects resisted aggressively: "It resulted of the retaliation they carried out and the disproportionate use of force from the gang members."

The state leader also said that the casualties shown by residents in the area were "altered".

Via a statement through digital channels, he asserted that particular individuals had been stripped of tactical gear he said they had been wearing "to redirect responsibility to security forces".

A police official of Rio's civil police force further reported that military attire, vests, and weapons" were taken away from the victims and presented video seemingly depicting a person removing tactical gear {off a corpse