Russia fights Islamic militants

(Vatican Radio) Russia's counterterrorism agency says its forces in North Caucasus have killed eight militants who had sworn allegiance to the Islamic State group, including a local leader.

Listen to Stefan Bos' report: 

A tense calm returned Monday to the area following gun battles between Russian security and Islamic militants. Russia's Anti-Terrorist Committee said its forces killed eight Islamic militants in combat in the province of Ingushetia, west of Chechnya.

Local media reported that Russian troops seized explosives, weapons and over 2,000 rounds of ammunition in the operation.

The counterterrorism agency said those killed were involved in a series of attacks on police. They allegedly swore an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State group, whose videos of the beheading of Christians and others have shocked many around the world.

Russian officials said those killed included the local group's leader, Adam Tagilov. He was accused of staging December's attack in Chechnya's provincial capital, Grozny. which left 25 people dead

In the December 4 violence in Grozny militants were seen attacking buildings prompting gun battles with security forces.

The upper floors of the Press House was engulfed in flames and later shootings continued around a school, though no students or teachers were present at the time.

That raid was seen as undermining the carefully nurtured image of stability under Chechnya's autocratic strongman Ramzan Kadyrov.

Russian officials said more than 1,000 Russian nationals have joined the Islamic State group and voiced fears they could pose a major threat when they return.

Ironically however police in Russia's province of Chechnya announced Sunday they opened a probe against three local women who allegedly cheated the Islamic State group out of money.

The three women had allegedly raised some 3,300 dollars through social media networks saying they lacked money to make a trip to Syria.

Police said they would unlikely face any punishment for fraud since it would require Islamic State to file a complaint.