GROZNY. Jan 26 (Interfax-AVN) - A group of up to 10 rebels have been surrounded near the village of Selmentauzen, Vedeno district of Chechnya, during a search-and-destroy operation. Four of them were eliminated, a competent source in the Regional HQ for Antiterrorist Operations in the North Caucasus told Interfax- Military News Agency Monday.
"One of the bandits had a passport identifying him as Shamil Tukhashev, 50. The group is thought to have been organic to Shamil Basayev's gang," the source in the HQ said.
According to the source, near the scene a base for up to 30 men was found and destroyed.
"A large stock of food and hardware was found there. A booby trap was neutralized at the entry to the base; five assault rifles, five grenades, video and audio tapes, notebooks, medical kits, and other things were seized," the source said.
He added that the Chechen police have eliminated a rebel named Bovsar Tazbiyev who attempted armed resistance to arrest. At the scene the police found a PK machine gun, a so-called shahid belt, and ammunition.