19 April 2004, 10:45
Restrictions on use of arms removed from Ingush policemen
In connection with the difficult operational situation in the republic and the recent assassination attempt on Ingush President Murat Zyazikov, the leadership of the Ingush law-enforcement agencies has made a decision to toughen measures to struggle against criminality, chief of the Ingush Interior Ministry's investigation department Isa Torshkhoyev said to the local television on April 16. "These steps will above all concern ways of conducting special operations to detain bandits," Mr Torshkhoyev explained to the Caucasian Knot correspondent via phone. "In particular, some restrictions on the use of arms will be removed from republican law-enforces. Policemen are allowed to open aimed fire first if there is a real threat to their life in the course of special operations to detain criminals." These are emergency measures, which are implemented in total compliance with the Russian legislation, Mr Torshkhoyev added.
More that 10 officers of the Ingush Interior Ministry have been killed in armed clashes with criminals only since the beginning of the current year, he said. The expansion of law enforcers' powers will allow not only to reduce losses among police officers but to some extent increase the efficiency of measures taken to struggle against criminality, Mr Torshkhoyev said.
Author: Malika Suleymanova, CK correspondent Source: Caucasian Knot
