GROZNY. March 7 (Interfax) - Ringleader Adam Khuchulayev has been killed in a special operation in the Chechen highlands, Chechen Republic head Ramzan Kadyrov told reporters.
"The search for remaining members of the Gakayev brothers' gang is underway in woody highlands in the Vedeno district. The police traced an armed militant. He was asked to put down the gun and surrender but opened fire instead. The militant killed was identified as Adam Khuchulayev, a member of the entourage of Muslim and Khusein Gakayev," Kadyrov said.
After the Gakayev brothers had been killed, Khuchulayev aspired to lead the gang. None of the servicemen was hurt. The operation is continuing.
Kadyrov reported the elimination of the Gakayev brothers in late January. At the time, the police had killed over a dozen militants.
Four brothers of Khusein and Muslim Gakayev - Jalamai, Said-Usman, Khasan and Rizvan - were killed in two Chechen campaigns.
Khusein and Muslim Gakayev fought for field commander Shamil Basayev in the first Chechen war. After Basayev was gone, they took charge of the Riyadh-Us-Salihiyn suicide bomber battalion. The Gakayev gang broke into the home village of first Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, Tsentoroi, in August 2010. Seven people died, and 24 were injured.