A militant group has been surrounded in a village in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Dagestan, the regional branch of the Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Saturday.
"A group of militants has been blocked off in a private house in the village of Zubutli-Miatli in the Tizil-Yurt district of Daghestan. The number of militants is still unknown," an FSB official said.
A heavy gunfight between police and the surrounded militants is underway, he added.
Russia's North Caucasus republics remain the "hot spots" of militant activity despite the efforts of the federal authorities to stop the bloodshed in the region.
Attacks on police, officials and troops, and special operations against militants have been reported almost daily in Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan.
MAKHACHKALA, March 13 (RIA Novosti)