Great-grandson of Batal-haji Belkharoyev shot in Ingushetia

A great-grandson of revered historic Islamic leader Sheikh Batal-haji Belkharoyev has been killed after his car was sprayed by gunfire in Russia's Ingushetia, according to local law enforcement authorities.

The car of Ibragim Belkharoyev, who had survived assassination attempts in 2008 and 2016, came under fire shortly after midnight on December 31 in Ingushetia's Nazran, the local branch of Russia's Investigative Committee said. Belkhareyov's driver was wounded in the attack.

The local Ingushetian branch of the Investigative Committee has opened a probe into the killing, Interfax reported.

Belkharoyev's great-grandfather, Batal-haji Belkharoyev, founded one of the Sufi Islamic teachings in the beginning of the 20th century and is held in high regard in Ingushetia and other parts of the North Caucasus.