NAC: militants killed in Dagestani village of Echeda were leaders of "Tsumandin" grouping

This morning, a law enforcement source has reported that a supposed member of an illegal armed formation (IAF), who opened fire at law enforcers from the roof of the mosque, was shot dead in the Dagestani village of Echeda.

His accomplice was killed after power agents blocked the mosque, the RIA Novosti agency quotes one of the law enforcers as saying.

According to preliminary data of the National Antiterrorist Committee (NAC), the casualties were identified as Merza Abdulkerimov, born in 1985, who was the leader of the "Tsumandin" gang, and his "right hand" Magomed Khuchbarov, born in 1987.

"The bandits went underground bandits in 2011. They were directly involved in attacks on civilians, policemen and militaries. Thus, in April 2011, Khuchbarov and Abdulkerimov took part in shelling the OMON (riot police) agents, who conducted their operative and combat activities in the Tsumadin District. In May that very year they killed the chief of the frontier post; and in August 2013 – a school headmaster," said the NAC, as quoted by the ITAR-TASS.