MOSCOW, September 7 (RIA Novosti) - Two soldiers have been injured in separate insurgent attacks in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Chechnya, local police said on Monday.

Both incidents occurred on Sunday afternoon in the mountains near the village of Shalazhi.

"At 17:15 [13:15 GMT] during a reconnaissance mission, an unidentified device exploded, injuring a contract serviceman. Half an hour later in the same region, a group of militants was discovered, who put up armed resistance and escaped. Another contract soldier was wounded," a police officer told RIA Novosti.

Backup forces have been sent to the scene, and the search for the militants is ongoing.

Russia's North Caucasus regions have seen a rise in violence in recent months. Attacks on police, officials and troops, and special operations against militants occur almost daily in Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan.