MOSCOW. Jan 20 (Interfax) - Three bandits have been eliminated in a special operation just outside Makhachkala, the National Antiterrorist Committee's information center said.
One of them has been identified as Arslanbek Khasayev, the statement said. "In March 2011 he entered an illegal position by joining the so-called Kadara- and later Makhachkala-based gang," the document said.
The gang is known to have committed a series of terrorist crimes, the NAC said.
The special operation is now over, there have been no losses among law enforcement forces and civilians, the NAC information center said.
"Following the information we obtained that a woman with two children could be inside one of the houses, negotiations were organized with the aim to release them. As a result, by 2:30 p.m. we managed to get them out from the besieged structure," the NAC said.
"The three bandits who remained inside the house refused to surrender their weapons and opened fire against law enforcers. As a result of the ensuing combat operation they were neutralized," the NAC said.