In a Rio slum, armed militia replaces drug gang's criminality with its own

Brazil is undergoing an economic boom that is lifting millions out of poverty. But here in Rio, the incident, which came to light through a series of articles in O Dia, has become a prominent sign of the strains on this city, which is plagued by violence and a notoriously corrupt police force.

Despite Brazil's economic growth, Rio's slums, or favelas, have proliferated, and now may number more than 800. The militias have multiplied with them, as battles with drug gangs have taken a toll on legitimate police forces.