Russian police kills 7 militants in North Caucasus region
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Russian police forces killed seven militants in separate operations in two of Russian republics in North Caucasus region, according to local media reports.
In Chechnya, local law enforcement agents conducted a special operation near the district of Shatoi and killed three militants, the reports cited Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov as saying.
"One of the slain militants had been identified as a resident of Grozny (Chechnya's capital city)," Kadyrov was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying.
In Dagestan, police killed four militants, including a militant leader Israpil Validzhanov, in Levashinsky region at dawn Monday.
Citing Russia's National Anti-Terrorist Committee, Itar-Tass news agency said the militants fired at police officers who had asked them to stop their cars. Four of the militants were killed in the exchange of fires.
Violence is common in the North Caucasus republics of Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia with militants frequently mounting attacks targeting police officers and authorities.
Moscow has vowed to bring stability to the region via improving social services and raising pensions and salaries as measures to tackle corruption and terror infiltration.
