Three of the six members of a gang suspected of high-profile robberies in Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Ingushetia were police officers, the Russian Interior Ministry said on Friday.
One of the gang members was killed and four arrested in a police manhunt in the village of Ekazhevo on Thursday after the gang broke in the house of the Ingush education minister and stole about 2 million rubles (over $60,000) in cash and jewelry.
The suspects offered armed resistance during the arrest. Two of the gang were injured and hospitalized, while one of the suspects managed to escape. The police suffered no casualties.
Two assault rifles, two handguns, a grenade and ammunition were recovered at the scene, the police earlier reported.
The police authorities in Ingushetia have launched an internal affairs probe, which could lead to sacking of the commanders of police units where the “turncoats” served.
The suspects may have also been involved in a number of high-profile robberies in Ingushetia, including an attack on the republic’s deputy health minister, a North Caucasus police source earlier said.
