DUSHANBE. April 14 (Interfax) - An operation aimed at neutralizing an armed group led by Abdullo Rakhimov, a Tajik civil war-era field commander, has been resumed in eastern Tajikistan, a high-ranking source in the republic's security services told Interfax on Thursday.
"Pro-government forces have already surrounded the gang in the village of Samsolik in the Nurabad district [135 kilometers east of the capital Dushanbe]," the source said.
Police also continue searching for ten inmates who escaped from a pre-trial detention center in Dushanbe on August 25, 2010.
On January 4, the Tajik authorities confirmed the death of Alovuddin Davlatov, who was accused of being involved in an attack on an army motor convoy together with Abdullo Rakhimov and Mirzokhudzha Akhmadov, as a result of which 28 people were killed.
"We do not know for certain whether Mullo Abdullo is among the group's members or not. But we are 100% sure that they are his people," the source said.
On August 23, 2010, 25 inmates, including citizens of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, escaped from the pre-trial detention center of the National Security Committee, seized weapons and killing five guards.
Field commander Akhmadov, who was initially suspected of involvement in the convoy attack, helped police eliminate Davlatov's gang.
Akhmadov surrendered his weapons on October 14 after Tajik President Emomali Rahmon promised to amnesty him and his supporters.
"Some of Akhmadov's people are assisting security services during the operation in the Nurabad district," the source said.