Five people were killed and one detained in a special operation to net perpetrators of Sunday's deadly attack on Tajik troops, which left more than 20 servicemen dead, local TV reported.
The operation against militant leaders Abdullo Rakhimov, Mirzokhudzha Akhmadov and Alovuddin Davlatov, as well as their supporters, took place in eastern Tajikistan on Wednesday afternoon.
Police did not reveal the identities of the five dead, citing the ongoing investigation, but isaid that none of the three leaders was among those killed.
Six assault rifles, three grenade launchers, ten mines, 600 cartridges and three bombs, each equivalent to 20 kg TNT were seized during the operation.
According to police information, the militants planned to use the explosive devices for a terrorist attack on the capital Dushanbe.
At least 23 servicemen were killed and 14 seriously injured on Sunday afternoon when they were ambushed in a remote Tajik valley. Two people later succumbed to their injuries in hospital.
DUSHANBE, September 22 (RIA Novosti)