Three suspected militants were killed in Russia’s North Caucasus Republic of Dagestan, a police source said on Thursday.
Law-enforcers stopped a car with three men in their late twenties for a security check in the town of Khasavyurt shortly after midnight.
"The three people in the car opened fire at law-enforcers and were shot dead in the exchange of gunfire,” the source said.
No civilians or law-enforcers were killed or injured in the shootout.
The National Antiterrorism Committee (NAC) said one of the militants was identified as a local militant group leader Arsen Kakayev. The militant group he led is suspected of extorting money from local businessmen, shooting and blasts in shops, vehicle explosions and attempts to kill police officers.
Assault rifles, ammunition and several grenades were found in the car.
