Brazil's "Globo" newspaper's front page reported that on the 28th, police in Rio de Janeiro city launched a crackdown on criminals, and so far 132 deaths have been confirmed. The Public Advocacy Office, which provides legal aid to poor areas (favelas), announced this news. The number of deaths is the highest ever in police operations in the city, more than double the initial announcement.

In Rio de Janeiro, authorities have tried for decades to curb gangs that control many favelas. On this day, the police conducted a sweep operation in the Alemão and Penha areas in the north of Rio de Janeiro.

The next day, on the morning of the 29th, grieving residents formed a line of dozens of corpses in the square.

State Governor Cláudio Castro explained that forensic procedures are ongoing. He said that the official number of deaths he received before the completion was 58. Most importantly, he said that the number of deaths "will definitely change" in the future.

Ricardo Leite, the Minister of Justice and Public Security, stated that the country's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was "shocked" by these numbers. He also expressed surprise that the federal government had not been notified in advance.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights even expressed "shock" at the police suppression before the death toll increased by more than double.

On the morning of the 29th, residents carried the bodies of the victims to the square in the Penha area, forming a long queue, demonstrating the violence of the sweep operation.

According to local reports, at least 50 to 70 corpses were present. Many corpses were also found in nearby hills, where the police said most of the deadly conflicts occurred.

When asked about describing the dead as "criminals," Governor Castro said, "Frankly, the conflict did not take place in the city, but entirely in the forest. That is why we can easily classify them."

Residents described the situation on the 28th as "like a war." In addition to gunfights between police and armed individuals, a bus was set on fire and used as a barricade.

According to the police, members of the "Commando Bermelho" gang used drones to throw explosives at police deployed in the areas where they were stationed.

Gov. Castro said, "This is the reality of how Rio police are treated by criminals. This is the scale of the challenge we face. This is not normal crime, but drug terrorism."

Gov. Castro said that this sweep operation was planned for over two months and was based on a thorough investigation.

Among those arrested was a reputed major drug dealer from the Belfort Roxo突击队 (Belfort Roxo Commando).

The governor also posted photos of four police officers who died during the operation on social media.

Then, he called this day "a historic day" and praised the deceased police officers for "fighting organized crime."

■ "Very rare" number of deaths

Brazilian journalist Rafael Soares, who reports on crime in Rio, told BBC Brasil that in recent years, the Belfort Roxo Commando has been launching offensives in Rio, regaining areas taken by the rival "First Capital Commando".

Soares further stated that this sweep operation is part of Castro's efforts to leave his mark before the upcoming election and to make a decisive strike against urban crime.

The clean-up operation took place before the "C40 Cities Summit" starting on November 1st in the city. It is expected that about 100 heads of state from major cities around the world will attend the summit. On the 5th, the "Fight for the Earth Award" ceremony is scheduled, and Prince William of the British royal family will attend.

Large-scale police sweeps are not uncommon in Rio, but the number of deaths on the 28th was unusual.

Soares said that police operations resulting in more than 20 deaths are "very rare" throughout Brazil, mainly in Rio de Janeiro.

Victor Santos, head of the State Security Department of Rio de Janeiro, said that 280,000 people live in the area where the sweep operation took place.

Police-provided video showed fully armed police patrolling a narrow, steep alley in a densely populated hillside favela.

Santos said, "What we see in Rio de Janeiro is a war. Decades of inaction by all city, state, and federal agencies have led to the rise in crime in our area."

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1847502002050060/

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