Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

Life is returning back to its normal routine in Nardaran village of Baku on the Caspian sea shore, which recently saw instability by force of actions of some radical groups.

The law-enforcement bodies held special operations in Nardaran on November 26 to render harmless an armed radical Islamist group, which was preparing a series of provocations, terror attacks and mass disorders.

Located some 25 km northeast of Baku, Nardaran is home for many sacred Muslim places, making the area popular among believers. The radical group tried to benefit the religious beliefs of local people and assembled supporters from Baku and regions, providing them with weapons and explosives.

The group demonstrated disobedience to the police, opening fire at them. As a result of reply fire, four members of the group were killed, with several others injured. At the same time, two policemen were died in the incident.

Later on fourteen members of the criminal group were detained along with the group’s ringleader Taleh Baghirov. All 14 detainees were arrested for four months as a preventive measure against them.

The government forces are now keeping under control the situation in Nardaran, while special operations are underway. Concrete slabs have been laid at the entrance of the village to narrow the road and strengthen control over the traffic. The police check every vehicle attempting to enter or leave the settlement.

To maintain safety measures in the village the law enforcement bodies have installed surveillance camera at the streets, squares and public buildings in the area.

Earlier, during the operations, the representatives of the Criminal Investigation Department of Baku’s Main Police Office and the Police Office of Sabunchu District found weapons and ammunition in one of the garbage can in Nardaran.

They seized here a machine carbine with a shortened barrel and erased serial number, five cartridges, a magazine and a revolver with erased serial number.

The law-enforcement agencies made a call to local people to surrender their arms should they have.

The government also called on the supporters of the group, who refuse to obey the government, to behave in line with the country's legislation. For instance, some residents refuse to pay utility fees, owing a large sum of money to the government.

Azerigas is now involved in installing new gas meters in the village with about 2,000 subscribers. So far, 300 apartments have been supplied with new gas meters.

Nardaran remains under tough control of police and security forces so that to prevent the radical religious tendencies not to take a rise in Azerbaijan, a secular Muslim country ruled by the law. The country's government has never allowed such dangerous initiatives to come to reality, especially at a time when radicalism is challenging in every part of the globe.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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