RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed Wednesday in a battle between Rio's Military Police and drug dealers in the Morro do Alemao shantytown in north Rio, police said.

    Four people, two policemen and two local residents, were also injured and three others arrested in the operation that involved 800 policemen.

    The police launched the operation on anonymous tip-off that the most wanted drug dealer in Rio, Antonio Jose Ferreira, known as Tota, was killed along with his two brothers and three bodyguards in faction within his drug gang Comando Vermelho (Red Command).

    The police raided the city's largest shantytown to recover their bodies which have been burnt beyond recognition.

    During the operation, the police seized two machine guns, one rifle, five grenades and a great amount of ammunition, as well as 20 kg of cocaine and 30 kg of marijuana.