Gang Leader Killed In Daghestan Shootout

Russia’s says the leader of a militant group in the North Caucasus republic of Daghestan has been killed in an overnight gunbattle with police.

The National Antiterrorist Committee said that Bagir Agabayev, the head of the Khiva armed group, was killed when militants in a car he was traveling in opened fire on police attempting to stop them for a documents check.

Agabayev’s aide, Albert Yarov, was also killed in the gunbattle, together with a third militant.

Agabayev, who had been listed on federal wanted lists, had previously been reported killed in a February security operation.

The Khiva militant group is part of the so-called Southern Sector criminal band, which has been blamed for numerous murders in Dagestan.