Police in Rio de Janeiro have found the torched bodies of three people they suspect were victims of an ongoing battle between a drug gang and a criminal militia.
The bodies were discovered today in the gritty Praca Seca area of Rio, 13 kilometers west of the Maracana soccer stadium that is hosting World Cup matches.
The area where the bodies were found has been wracked by tension as a powerful drug gang battles against a militia in the area.
Militias in Rio largely are made up of former or current firefighters and police officers. They are a growing presence in poor areas, where they run illegal rackets for electricity and cable TV hook ups, along with van services.
