MORE DIE AMID RIO SLUM VIOLENCE, 35 NOW DEAD

VIOLENCE HAS CONTINUED TO GRIP SEVERAL SHANTYTOWNS
IN RIO DE JANEIRO, POLICE EXPAND ANTI-GANG RAIDS

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - Police in Rio expanded a crackdown on gangs beyond the area hit by a wave of killings that has claimed at least 35 lives since the weekend, officials said Wednesday. The clashes came less than three weeks after the city was awarded the 2016 Olympic Games. They began when a drug gang tried to invade a rival's territory and three policemen were killed when a helicopter was shot down by gunfire over the weekend. Subsequent firefights between police and heavily armed gang members have left the affected slums in chaos.

Hundreds of residents fled their homes overnight, choosing to sleep in streets away from their own neighborhoods after rumors spread that drug gangs were set to battle again. Gangs are suspected of using high-caliber weapons to shoot down a helicopter on Saturday near the Morro dos Macacos slum, which remains the scene of fighting between rival gangs and police trying to subdue them. Three of six police officers on board were killed in the crash. Most of the dead this week were suspected gang members, but the victims also included several bystanders. While the violence began in a northern area near the Maracana stadium, which will host the Olympics' opening and closing ceremonies, police searching for suspects behind the downing of the helicopter launched operations in slums in Rio's south and center on Wednesday and Thursday.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?

When there are different centers of interests, nobody can avoid clashing of individuals, groups, nations etc. As for example, if circles are drawn with different centers, circumferences will cross, but if there is one center of interest there may be smaller or bigger circles but there will be no crossing. According to Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu there should be knowledge of the real self, real interest and one center of interest. Supreme Lord Sri Krishna who is 'Achyuta' can only be the common center of interest from whom all the spirit souls have emanated. If we pour water at the root of the tree, whole tree is nourished with all its parts, in like manner, by serving Krishna we serve all.

Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaja :
"Strongest Spiritual Force on Earth"
Published on Sep 6, 2002.