MAKHACHKALA, February 15 (RIA Novosti) - Three suspected militants were killed in a special operation in Russia's North Caucasus Republic of Daghestan, the regional security service said on Sunday.

Russia's law-enforcement agencies launched an anti-terror operation in the Sergokala district in western Daghestan on Sunday morning to search for and eliminate a militant group, which had carried out numerous attacks on police, the regional security service said.

"The active phase of the special operation is over... As a result of the special operation, three militants have been killed, three Kalashnikov assault rifles have been found and two explosive devices have been defused," the security service said.

Daghestan and Ingushetia, which both border Chechnya, are experiencing a sharp increase in attacks on law enforcement and military personnel.