Security forces killed at least six insurgents during a gun battle in Ingushetia on Tuesday, a day after Prime Minister Vladimir Putin pledged about $1.5 billion to develop the republic.
The shootout began after police surrounded several houses in the town of Ekazhevo, 5 kilometers southeast of Nazran, the largest town in the region, a police spokesman told Interfax.
Interfax said 11 suspected militants were detained and four law enforcement officials were injured.
Police said the group had attacked police officers and planted bombs at the local police headquarters.
Putin said Monday in the provincial capital, Magas, that the federal government would spend 43 billion rubles ($1.44 billion) through 2016 to develop Ingushetia, where analysts say poverty is pushing civilians to join Islamist rebels.
Putin told Ingushetia’s leaders annual funding would rise from more than 2 billion rubles this year to 12.7 billion rubles starting in 2012.
In Dagestan, a 17-year-old boy was injured in a blast in a home in Makhachkala on Tuesday, RIA-Novosti reported, citing security officials. It said two bombs were later found in the home.
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