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The eyewitness

A photographer who documented the consequences of an extensive Brazilian police operation in the metropolitan area has recounted how residents came back with mutilated bodies of people who lost their lives.

The bodies "kept piling up: the numbers kept rising", the photographer stated. The total contained those of police officers.

One individual had been decapitated - others were "totally disfigured", he reported. Several bodies showed what he described as stab wounds.

In excess of 120 victims were fatally injured during Tuesday's raid on a criminal gang - the most lethal operation Rio has experienced.

The photographer reported that he was first alerted concerning the action Tuesday morning by community members of the Alemão neighbourhood, who sent him messages alerting him there was a shoot-out.

The photographer made his way to a local medical facility, where the casualties were coming in.

Itan explained that security forces blocked media personnel from entering the operation zone, where the operation was under way.

"Law enforcement personnel formed a line and announced: 'The press cannot proceed beyond this point'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who was raised in the community, stated he managed to make his way into the cordoned-off area, where he stayed until dawn.

He described that evening, local residents commenced searching the mountainous area that separates the Penha neighborhood from the neighboring Alemão community for loved ones whose whereabouts were unknown after the operation.

Residents from the Penha area proceeded to place the located casualties in an open area - and Itan's photos display the reaction of those present.

"The harsh reality of the situation shook me profoundly: the pain of the families, mothers fainting, pregnant wives, sobbing, outraged parents," the reporter recounted.

Bruno Itan

The state leader of the state announced that the extensive law enforcement effort with approximately 2,500 security personnel was designed to preventing a criminal group 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.

They have since said that early calculations suggests that 117 individuals lost their lives.

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

According to researchers, Red Command represents the unique criminal entity which in recent years has succeeded to expand its territory in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Experts commonly view as a major illegal faction in the country, in company with a rival criminal group, with a background extending half a century.

Based on correspondent Rafael Soares, who has been covering criminal activity in the city over many years, the criminal organization "functions as a network" with local criminal leaders affiliating with the group and acting as "business partners".

The organization engages primarily in illegal drug trade, additionally trafficking guns, valuable minerals, fuel, alcohol smoking products.

Per law enforcement statements, organization members possess significant weaponry and authorities stated that during the raid, they faced assaults from explosive-laden drones.

The official of the state, the political leader, described gang affiliates as criminal extremists and described the law enforcement personnel killed in the raid as brave public servants.

Nevertheless, the total of people killed in the operation has received condemnation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stating they were "appalled".

At a news conference the next day, Governor Castro defended the police force.

"We did not plan to cause fatalities. We intended to take suspects into custody without harm," he said.

He added that the circumstances had escalated as the individuals fought back: "It resulted of the counterattack they executed and the overwhelming response from the gang members."

The governor further reported that the casualties presented by community members in the neighborhood had been "manipulated".

Via a statement on social media, he claimed that some of them had been stripped of the camouflage clothing which he claimed they wore "to transfer accusation toward law enforcement".

Felipe Curi representing security forces also said that military attire, protective equipment, and arms" were taken away from the bodies and presented video appearing to show a person removing tactical gear {off a corpse