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One killed militant found at scene of special operation in Dagestan — source

A house collapsed during a special operation in the settlement of Andi in south Russia

MAKHACHKALA, January 26. /TASS/. Security forces have started removing the debris of the collapsed house in the settlement of Andi in Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Dagestan after yesterday’s special operation, a source in Dagestan’s security agencies told TASS on Tuesday.

The body of one militant has been found so far, the source said. "The body was severely damaged so it is impossible to identify him now. An expertise will be carried out," the source noted.

"Removal of debris continues. It is possible that bodies of other killed militants will be found as well," he added.

On Monday at 9:30am a counter-terrorist operation regime was declared in the settlement of Andi. It was reported later that several militants were blocked in one of the houses. The house collapsed during the operation.

The Dagestan Republic is part of the North Caucasus Federal District. It also comprises Kabardino-Balkaria, Ingushetia, the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Chechnya, North Ossetia and the Stavropol Territory.

According to the National Anti-Terrorism Committee, 243 gunmen were neutralized in Russia in 2014, including 38 chieftains, 644 militants and their henchmen were detained. Security forces conducted 74 counter-terrorism operations in the North Caucasus, seizing 272 home-made explosives and a significant number of firearms, with 219 criminals becoming subject to criminal penalties.