GROZNY. Jan 20 (Interfax-AVN) - Two guerillas have been destroyed in the Shelkovskaya district of Chechnya, a spokesman for the regional operational headquarters in charge of the Chechnya campaign told Interfax-Military News Agency on Monday.
"An engagement took place in the Kurdyukovskaya village. Guerillas identified as brothers Umar and Usam Khadzhimuradovs aged 42 and 39 respectively were destroyed when attempting to put up resistance during the detention. A Chechen elite policeman involved in the operation was wounded during the engagement," the spokesman said.
Federals already proved the involvement of the brothers in numerous terrorist acts against local authorities and peaceful residents of the Shelkovskaya and Naurskaya districts of the troubled republic. Two AKM assault rifles, cartridges for them, a PM pistol and an F-1 hand grenade were seized on the scene of the engagement.
Chief of the unified federal troop group's press service Colonel Nikolai Baranov said that federal units are doing their best to protect locals from rebels, who have stepped up attempts to intimidate civilians and destabilize the situation before the referendum. In particular, federal forces had to organize the protection of teachers' families in the Dzhaglargi village of the Nozhai-Yurt district as they are constantly receiving threats from terrorists.
A source in the group's headquarters told Interfax-AVN that in accordance with reconnaissance data there are still undetected supporters of guerillas in law-enforcement agencies in Chechnya. They are paid for supplying prisoners and slaves to rebels.
"Guerillas are trying hard to get a job in various state governing bodies including law-enforcement agencies," the source said.
Baranov stressed that the group's headquarters does not have information confirming the attempt on the life of Chechen administration head Akhmat Kadyrov which was reportedly prevented on Sunday.
"Two mobile strongpoints are maintained by federals on Minutka Square. No reports on any prevented terrorist acts have been received from them," Baranov added.