Chechen terrorists uncovered in Ingushetia

The three Chechen fighters who were killed in Ingushetia Monday during a special operation, had been abroad and then entered the republic from Azerbaijan via Georgia, reported the regional headquarters for the counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus. The identification found on the fighters was issued to the names of Muslim Salamov and Ramzan Nataev and the third terrorist is being still identified.

There is evidence that one of the terrorist ringleaders who is currently abroad tried to use the three Chechens to establish contacts with Arab mercenaries hiding in the mountainous ridges of Chechnya, said the source.

Ingush Deputy Prosecutor General Shamil Aushev told RIA that criminal proceedings have been launched in accordance with the terrorism article of the Criminal Code. Intentions and assignments of the dead terrorists are being ascertained and all possibilities are being considered, said Mr. Aushev.

Last Monday, when a house in Nazran was subject to a targeted police and security service check, three terrorist inside resisted with arms and were killed in retaliation fire. Three security agents were wounded. The house where the Chechens had been found belonged to a family of Georgian natives with three small children.

The house had a weapons a cache containing: a belt with four 200 gram TNT charges with detonators, 30 kilograms of plastic explosives, five remote control detonators, 200 grams of TNT, seven grenades and two Makarov guns.