Moscow, Sep 21 (IANS/RIA Novosti): At least four militants have been killed in a special police operation in Russia's troubled southwestern Chechnya region, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said.
The operation was conducted early Thursday in the mountainous area of Vedensky district in southern Chechnya, Kadyrov said.
"It is targeting an armed militant group, led by Muslim Gakayev, whose members were planning a number of serious crimes," he said.
Unfortunately, two police officers were also killed in a skirmish with militants, the Chechen leader said.
Sporadic terrorist attacks and clashes between police and militants are common in Russia's volatile North Caucasus republics, where Russia has had two brutal wars against separatists in Chechnya.