The Carandiru massacre, a horrific event that occurred on October 2, 1992, in the Carandiru prison in São Paulo, Brazil, is a tragic episode that left over 111 people dead. The event has been the subject of numerous controversies and differing versions of the story, making it a complex and enduring topic of discussion.
The Carandiru prison, inaugurated in 1922, was initially praised as a model prison. However, by the 1940s, it had reached maximum capacity with several stories of violence inside. The prison was divided into different pavilions, each with its own unique characteristics. Pavilion 9, for instance, housed first-time offenders and was one of the most dangerous.
On October 2, 1992, a fight broke out in Pavilion 9, turning into a bloodbath. The entire prison was closed, and several police officers were called to help. The official version stated that only 86 police officers entered the prison, but the prosecutor stated that it was more than 300. There were conflicting accounts of what happened inside the prison, with the police version stating that the inmates attacked them aggressively, and the inmates' version suggesting that they were unarmed and brutally killed.
Forensic investigations revealed that only 26 inmates were killed outside their cells, while the rest died inside their cells. The trajectory of the police officers' bullets indicated that several shots were fired from the outside into the cells, suggesting that the prisoners were killed while inside their cells.
The police claimed that they only acted in self-defense, but human rights organizations argue that the characteristics of the wounds suggest a pattern of execution. The official number of dead was 111, but the inmates claimed that the true number would be over 200.
Colonel Ubiratan, who coordinated the operation, was convicted for 102 deaths and served 632 years in prison. After his acquittal in 2006, he was killed in a suspicious manner, leading to further controversy.
The Carandiru massacre has had a profound impact on Brazilian society and has fueled theories about the creation of the PCC, one of the largest criminal organizations in Brazil, in response to the oppression in São Paulo prisons. Despite the numerous versions and controversies, the Carandiru massacre remains a significant event in Brazilian history, a painful reminder of the human rights abuses that occurred within the country's prison system.
1. The Carandiru massacre is a significant event in Brazilian history, with over 111 people reported dead.
2. The prison was once a model institution, but it became overcrowded and violent, reaching its maximum capacity around 1940.
3. The prison was divided into different pavilions, each with its own rules and dangers. Pavilion 9, for example, was home to first-time offenders and was considered one of the most dangerous.
4. On October 2, 1992, a fight broke out in Pavilion 9, turning into a bloodbath.
5. The official number of dead released by the police was 111, but this number was disputed. The prisoners claimed that the actual number was more than 200.
6. Forensic investigations discovered that only 26 inmates were killed outside their cells, with some prisoners having 111 dead inmates.
7. The police version claimed that the prisoners were trying to annihilate them, while the prisoners' version claimed that they were unarmed and peaceful when the police arrived.
8. The case against several police officers was dropped due to a lack of evidence, but Colonel Ubiratan, who coordinated the operation, was convicted for 102 deaths and served 632 years in prison.
9. There are theories suggesting that the PCC, one of Brazil's biggest criminal organizations, was created as a response to the events in Carandiru.