MOSCOW, December 29 (RIA Novosti) - An aide to the prosecutor of Nazran, the largest city in the Russian North Caucasus republic of Ingushetia, was injured as his car was attacked late on Sunday, a local police spokesman reported on Monday.

"At 9:55 p.m. Moscow time (18:55 GMT), three unidentified people riding in a Zhiguli car opened fire at another Zhiguli car driven by an aide to the Nazran prosecutor," the spokesman said.

The prosecutor's aide was hospitalized. An investigation is underway.

Ingushetia, which borders Chechnya, has seen a marked increase in fighting between militants and federal troops this year.

Twelve militants, including a warlord and foreign mercenaries, were killed in a security sweep in the republic from December 23 to December 25.