24/7 Tass 139
PYATIGORSK, July 24 (Itar-Tass) —— A total of 209 militants, including 24 militant leaders, were killed in the North Caucasus in the first half of the year, Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev told police chiefs of the North Caucasian Federal District on Sunday.
He said the number of registered crimes declined by 9.7%, including the 14.2% decline in grave crimes.
“The police seized about 680 firearms, which was 1.5 times more than the year ago, and more than 135,000 pieces of ammunition, which was twice more than last year,” Nurgaliyev said.
About 100 officers died in police operations in January-June 2011, the minister said.
“The casualties dropped by practically 31%. Ninety-nine officers died and 253 were wounded in the line of duty,” he said.