MAKHACHKALA, December 30 (RIA Novosti) - A senior officer with Russia's Interior Ministry has died in hospital following an attack on his car in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Daghestan, a local police spokesman said on Tuesday.

The attack took place on Monday evening near the capital of Makhachkala. Maj. Gen Valery Lipinsky along with his driver was injured while his wife received a superficial injury.

"Gen. Lipinsky died on the operating table of a republican clinic in Makhachkala [on Monday], he did not regain consciousness," the spokesman said. "Doctors fought for three hours to save the general's life but failed," he said.

The driver, a well known Daghestani composer Magomed Kasumov underwent an operation, the spokesman said adding that he was reported to be in a stable condition.

According to a spokesman for the 102nd mechanized infantry brigade of the interior forces in Daghestan, which Lipinsky previously headed, the official was deputy head of the regional interior forces headquarters for the North Caucasus.

Media reported Lipinsky was previously first deputy chairman of Daghestan's anti-terrorism commission.

A criminal case has been opened, and a search for the attackers is underway.