KHANKALA, March 6 (AVN) - Federal troops have captured 61 members of a Chechen rebel gang which was trying to breakthrough to neighbouring Dagestan for several days, a source in the unified federal headquarters told the Military News Agency.
The capture became possible after the rebels were surrounded by powerful fire strikes, the source said. As a result, hundreds of militants were eliminated, and their arms, ammo, uniform and military equipment captured.
Meanwhile, units of the central federal group under command of Lieutenant-General Vladimir Bulgakov captured a fortified area near the village of Shatoi. The place hosted a rebel base which was set up about four years ago.
The guerrillas lost 153 men killed in the fight. According to the military, they finished off all their wounded before retreating.
The federals found various drugs in the most of 63 blindages. Eyewitnesses said stoned rebels shouting "Allah akbar" once staged seven "psychic attacks" in the course of a single fight.
The success of the operation became possible thanks to high professional skill of federal combat units, powerful artillery and aviation strikes and non-linear battle order, Bulgakov said.