Four policemen detained in Chechnya on suspicion of kidnapping

Four policemen, suspected of kidnapping and robbery, were detained in Chechnya.

"They were detained in the course of investigation of the abduction and robbery of two inhabitants of the Kargalinovskaya Cossack village in the Shelkovskaya district," Chechen Interior Ministry officials said.

According to the investigation bodies' information, four unknown people stopped a Zhiguli car on a highway in the evening of January 25. There were two inhabitants of Kargalinovskaya in the car.

The men were pushed into a car and beaten. Their personal things were taken away, their hands were tied, and then the men were thrown onto the roadside.

"Due to the Interception plan which was put into operation, the car with the suspects was stopped at the checkpoint in the Shelkovskaya Cossack village some time later," the Interior Ministry officials said.

The suspects proved to be policemen of Chechnya's patrol and sentry service. Three submachine-guns, grenades, an improvised explosive device, rounds for a grenade launcher, and many cartridges, as well as handcuffs, Scotch tape and black masks were found in their car.

The suspects' complicity in other crimes of this kind is currently being checked.