KHABAROVSK, October 27 (Itar-Tass) —— The range of search for the missing three policemen, who disappeared in the lower area of the Amur River on the night to October 12, is enlarged to the Sakhalin coast, a source at the transport police department for the Far East Federal District told Itar-Tass on Saturday.
Search groups in boats examined the water area along the Sakhalin coast from the village of Romanovka to the settlement of Rybnovsk and the coast line between the capes of Grote, Chingai, Pyrki and Noksi. The river areas from Cape Vassa to the settlement of Nizhneye Pronge and some islands were examined once more.
Twenty six people and five vessels participated in the search. Motor transport was also used. Unfortunately, the search is unsuccessful so far.
The fate of Major Andrei Bakanov, Senior Sergeant Sergei Arzhakov and Senior Sergeant Maxim Kharin, all from a transport police department, remains unknown. They had been sent to the region to participate in an operation against poaching.
The last contact with them was late on October 11 when they patrolled the Amur River. After that, contact with them was lost. The policemen and their boat have not been found. A search group has found personal things -- a life jacket, a jacket, a telephone and documents of one of the missing men -- on a small island in the lower Amur area.
Police have asked residents of local settlements to report any information that may help find out what happened to the policemen.