Forty-nine militants killed in Russia's Chechnya

Since the start of 2010, a total of 49 illegal militants have been killed by police and security forces in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Chechnya, said a regional deputy interior minister on Thursday.

Another 147 gang members have been detained, said Muslim Isaev at a working meeting, adding that 23 militants surrendered themselves.

"In addition, Chechen police found about 40 caches of weapons and ammunition," he said as quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency.

Since the beginning of this year, local police have managed to maintain security for a total of 172 social, political, cultural and sports events, with the participation of over 600,000 people.

Despite a registered reduction in the crime rate, said Isaev, additional measures must be taken to "ensure the safety of objects of special importance" and "places crowded with civilians."

Violence is common in Russia's mainly Muslim North Caucasus republics, especially Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia, with militants frequently targeting police and officials as representatives of Russian authorities.

Source: Xinhua