At least seven policemen were killed and 18 injured in an armed
clash at a checkpoint on the administrative border between
Ingushetia and Chechnya on Wednesday.
According to the information provided by the Chechen Interior
Ministry, a Chechen police special task force (OMON) unit was
returning to its base from a special operation and was met with
intensive gunfire at the checkpoint.
Five Chechen policemen were killed and 11 were wounded in the
clash. Law enforcement agencies in southern Russia said two
policemen were killed and seven were wounded on the Ingush
side.
The OMON servicemen had been taking part in a special operation
against members of illegal armed units in Ingushetia.
The Interfax news agency said certain reports indicated that a
militant had been detained in a special operation prior to the
clash.
A convoy of three cars, which earlier entered Ingushetia from
the Chechen side, was stopped at the checkpoint on its return.
Meanwhile, Chechen law enforcement sources said Chechen Interior
Ministry's OMON Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff Buvadi Dukhiyev
was badly wounded in the incident.
Dukhiyev was taken to hospital in a critical condition, the
sources said.
(Xinhua News Agency September 14, 2006)
