Aslan Mamedov, a militant leader who was the third in the militant hierarchy of the North Caucasus republic of Dagestan, was killed in a special operation on Sunday, Russia's National Anti-Terrorist Committee (NAC) said.

"The National Anti-Terrorism Committee notes that the elimination of such an odious warlord as Mamedov is a serious blow on Dagestan militants," the NAC said in a statement.

During the operation, another militant named Murad Nurmagomedov Murad was also eliminated.

According to the NAC, Mamedov, born in 1986, was killed in a private house in the village of Vinsovkhozny near Khasavyurt district.

Nicknamed "Muas", Mamedov was on a federal wanted list for plotting and implementing murders, arsons, attacks and blasts in the republic.

Violence is common in Russia's North Caucasus, especially in republics of Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia, with militants frequently mounting attacks against police officers and authorities.

Acting interior minister Rashid Nurgaliyev said on Saturday that the Russian forces have killed 155 militants in the volatile North Caucasus region in the first four months of 2012.