DUSHANBE. July 28 (Interfax-AVN) - One criminal and a border guard were killed as a result of a clash between a Russian border guard unit and a group of people trying to cross the Tajik-Afghan border.
The Russian Federal Security Service's border guard department in Tajikistan told Interfax that servicemen from the Moscow border guard unit spotted eight people crossing the Panj River, which marks the Afghan-Tajik border, on two rafts in the early hours of Monday
As soon as the first raft carrying four people reached the Tajik bank of the river, the border guards tried to detain them. At the same time, those travelling on the second raft opened fire with grenade launchers and assault rifles. A clash ensued.
Another border guard unit sent to the scene also came under automatic weapons fire. One Tajik border guard sustained a non- life threatening wound as a result of the attack.
The body of a man wearing Afghan clothes was found at the scene. The rest of the criminals managed to escape to Afghanistan.