Tsumada gang leader, aide neutralized in Dagestan - NAC
MOSCOW. July 11 (Interfax) - The National Anti-terrorist Committee (NAC) has confirmed the elimination of two militants during a counterterrorist operation in the village of Echeda in Dagestan's Tsumada district.
"Having offered armed resistance, the bandits barricaded themselves in one of buildings in the Echeda village. When offered to surrender, they opened fire against law enforcement officers. As a result of the clashes, both bandits were neutralized," the NAC said in a statement obtained by Interfax on Friday.
"They have been tentatively identified as Merza Abdulkerimov, born 1985, who was the leader of the Tsumada-based gang, and his right hand man Magomed Khuchbarov, born 1987," the NAC said.
The bandits took up illegal activities in 2011. They were personally involved in attacks on civilians, police and army personnel. For instance, in April 2011 Khuchbarov and Abdulkerimov took part in an attack on special-forces police officers who were conducting an operation in the Tsumada district. In May 2011 they killed a border station chief and a school principal in August 2013.
An automatic rifle and a portable machinegun were found at the scene.
There were no civilian casualties, nor losses among law enforcement personnel.