MOSCOW, October 28 (Itar-Tass) — A criminal case is opened in Dagestan over the murder of cleric sheik Sirazhutdin Israfilov well known and respected in the south of the republic.

A source at the Russian Investigative Committee said the criminal case was opened under Articles 105 of the Russian Criminal Code (murder committed by a group) and Article 222 (illegal arms traffic).

The investigators consider as the main version that it is connected with the cleric’s activities -- he actively came out against Islamic extremism. Israfilov was head of Islamic University's branch in the city of Derbent.

The investigative work is under way to establish all the circumstances of the crime.

On October 27, two unidentified attackers fired a pistol at the respected cleric in the yard at his house in the village of Khurik, the Tabasaran district. The attackers escaped from the site.