Lame Amir

Another bandit leader was destroyed in Makhachkala

The special services of Dagestan began the New Year with a series of operations against militants. Starting from January 3, targeted sweeps took place in the capital of the republic, which yesterday ended in a large-scale battle and the destruction of three separatists. One of the killed militants, according to the intelligence services, led the Makhachkala gang underground in recent months. According to the head of the Dagestan Ministry of Internal Affairs, Adilgirey Magomedtagirov, the killed militants are the remnants of the gang of Rasul Makasharipov , who was destroyed in July 2005. Meanwhile, the republican prosecutor's office once again doubted the conclusions of the police and suggests that over the past year the ranks of the militants have been replenished with “dozens of recruits.”

As the city police department said, the operation to block militants in Makhachkala in a multi-storey building on Gamidov Avenue, which began on Wednesday around eight o’clock in the evening, was preceded by a multi-day search. On the night of January 2, separatists fired at a police patrol in that area. In the shootout, one of the operatives was wounded. And the very next day, on Shamil Avenue, building 30-a, special forces tried to capture the alleged militants. However, after many hours of blockade and a thorough check of all residents, the order for the assault was never given, and by the evening the residents were allowed to return to their apartments.

On the night of January 11, operatives blocked a specific apartment on the fourth floor of the same building. Special forces blew up the door behind which the militants were supposed to be, but there was no one inside. However, during the search, homemade bombs prepared for explosion were discovered (three tin buckets with explosives and destructive elements), a bag of ammonium nitrate, a bag of bolts, an F-1 grenade, a camouflage uniform and equipment for six people. It is noteworthy that among the Wahhabi literature, investigators also found a map of Makhachkala with designated police posts, some of which were attacked in December last year (three traffic police officers were killed then). Among the papers, detectives found documents for an apartment in a 12-story building on Gamidov Avenue.

The police prepared thoroughly for the next special operation. Traffic along the avenue was blocked, some residents were evacuated, others were advised not to go near the windows or leave the apartment. About 200 police officers and armored personnel carriers were deployed to the house.

The special forces opened fire on the windows of one of the apartments on the tenth floor of building 9-b after unsuccessful negotiations with the bandits. Return shots from the militants stopped only yesterday at four in the morning, and the operatives decided to wait until dawn to enter the premises. However, at about eight o'clock in the morning two small explosions were heard in the apartment. As explosives experts found out, the militants installed two tripwires near the door, which for some unknown reason went off without external intervention.

Investigators found three corpses in the apartment. Immediately after the completion of the special operation, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation Arkady Edelev stated that “three militants were killed in Makhachkala - leader Shamil Gasanov, nicknamed Khromoy, who was on the federal wanted list, as well as certain Zagir Gadzhiev and Khalid.” According to the general, militants were involved in many attacks on law enforcement officers. The Dagestan Ministry of Internal Affairs added that the leader of the bandit group, 29-year-old Shamil Gasanov, was trained in Arab mercenary camps in Chechnya, and in recent months was appointed Emir of Makhachkala.

Meanwhile, according to the republican prosecutor's office, it is too early to draw specific conclusions. “There was not a single operative on the spot who knew Hasanov by sight. It is also difficult to talk about the personalities of the remaining bandits. They are unknown to us yet. In addition, we know that the surviving bandits who obeyed Muslim (call sign Makasharipov - Ed. ) actively involved young people in their dirty deeds. Perhaps those killed were just these teenagers!” - commented the prosecutor's office.

Tatiana GRITSENKO