NIZHNY NOVGOROD. Feb 27 (Interfax-AVN) - Search operations were launched in the Chechen town of Argun on Wednesday with the mission to detain members of a rebel group which has stepped up its activities in the past few days, Lieutenant Colonel Igor Sofronov, press service chief in the Volga district of the Interior Ministry troops, told Interfax-Military News Agency on Wednesday.
Soldiers of the district's Shumilovo brigade, who are serving in and around Argun, are detecting rebel routes and identify field commanders in charge of the group.
According to Sofronov, Magomed Temirbulatov, director of the concrete product plant, was seriously beaten by people dressed in camouflage uniform in Argun overnight to Tuesday. According to reconnaissance data, a rebel group comprising Chechens and Slavs is operating in Argun with the mission to even with local residents cooperating with federal forces. The group is supposed to total some 20 rebels.
Servicemen of the brigade detained two suspected rebels on Wednesday morning. The detainees were transferred to the Argun temporary police department.