The number of police agents that have died in 2016 so far has increased to 70 in the state of Rio de Janeiro, the most touristic in Brazil and the location of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, according to reports released by local television company Globo on Monday.

The latest victim was an agent from the Militarized Police, who died on Saturday night after being shot in the mouth close to a slum in a suburb of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city in Brazil, while he was trying to recover a stolen vehicle in the area, Globo reported.

A soldier from the National Force is also among the 70 victims. He was killed during the Olympics after entering by accident a dangerous slum close to the international airport in the north of the city.

In addition, the number of police agents injured during shootouts with drug trafficking gangs in the city now reached 293, local media reported.

Source : XINHUA