MOSCOW (BNO NEWS) -- At least six people were killed when a gunfight between militants and federal forces broke out in Russia's restive North Caucasus republic of Dagestan, police said on Wednesday.
The state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported that two civilians, a serviceman, and two suspected militants were killed during the shootout that occurred late on Wednesday. Another serviceman and six civilians were wounded. An assault rifle and a handgun were seized from the site of the clash.
"According to the latest reports, one serviceman and two civilians have been killed in a shootout in the village of Serebryakovka [near the city of Kizlyar]. One more servicemen and six civilians were wounded," a police spokesman said.
One of the two militants killed in the gunfight was identified as gang leader Magomed Aliyev. A local police source said the gang led by Aliyev extorted money from businessmen, killed religious leaders, blew up railroads and attempted to kill law enforcement officers.
"Aliyev underwent training in Syria and after returning he joined the militants," the source said.
So far this year, Russian security forces have killed more than 145 militants in the North Caucasus region, including 19 senior leaders. Others have been arrested. The deaths have taken place in the troubled republics of Chechnya, Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria.
Islamist militants in the region have been fighting Russian security forces for years, looking to establish an independent state in the North Caucasus. Around 50 percent of all terrorist-related violence in Russia last year happened in the mainly-Muslim region.
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