Four men executed during picnic in Russia's Dagestan

Four men executed during picnic in Russia's Dagestan

2011-08-15 08:02:09 GMT+7 (ICT)

MAKHACHKALA, DAGESTAN (BNO NEWS) -- Four young men were executed during a picnic in the Republic of Dagestan in Russia on Saturday evening, local media reported on Monday.

A representative of the Dagestani department of the Russian Investigation Committee told the Itar-Tass news agency that the men were found dead on the outskirts of Batashyurt in the Khasavyurt district on Sunday morning. They were all shot in the head.

"The bodies were found on a forest meadow, 150 meters (490 feet) away from the village," the representative said. "The young men went on a picnic and consumed alcohol on Saturday evening. Probably, followers of the Wahhabism radical trend of Islam did not like their picnic amid the Holy Month of Ramadan."

Officials ruled out the possibility of a robbery as the victims' car was found at the murder scene and their cell phones, money, and other personal belongings were all recovered. Among the dead was a police officer, Itar-Tass reported.

Forensic experts are still examining the scene to establish whether the picnic during the Ramadan was the motive for the executions. This year the Ramadan began on August 1st and ends on August 29.

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