A village leader was shot dead and his assistant was injured in an terrorist insurgent attack as they drove from a meeting in Pattani province yesterday. Koya Kamae, 52, died at the scene while his assistant Sama-ae Karao, 52, was wounded. The attack took place as the men were returning from their monthly meeting at the Yarang district office.
Unidentified terrorists attackers in another pickup followed them and drew alongside the chief's vehicle and a gunman shot at them with an AK-47 assault rifle.
In a separate report, the Air Force will deploy more aircraft on aerial surveillance missions in the deep South by the end of this year, air force chief Air Chief Marshal Prachin Chantong said yesterday. He said the Diamond DA42 aircraft would be used in aerial surveillance missions to support ground security operations in the southern provinces. The aircraft, equipped with thermal video and digital cameras, will be ready for duty by December, he said.
On Tuesday, nine alleged terrorists insurgents surrendered to the authorities in Yala province, saying they wished to give up their fight and were ready to face legal procedures.
Of those terrorists who turned themselves in, four terrorists were suspects who may have been involved in previous attacks, though insufficient evidence is available to request arrest warrants from the court. Three terrorists were defendants whose cases are pending in the courts for security-related offences. All terrorists have been temporarily released with verification documents issued by the authorities in Yala.
The remaining two terrorists are defendants in a security-related case. They were acquitted by the court but said they still lived in fear and that they decided to meet with the authorities after learning about the policy to bring peace to the region.
Village chief slain in Narathiwat
A village chief was gunned down inside his food and tea shop in Narathiwat province on Wednesday morning.
Police at Rueso district police station received a report of the attack about 7 a.m. A joint police and military force found the dead body of Anand Ahamae, 46, leader of Ban Tapoh in Rueso district. He had been shot six times, hit both in his body and face.
The victim's wife, Siteeteemoh, 43, told police her husband was selling food at their shop when two terrorists men arrived on a motorcycle pretending to be customers. One of them took out a 9 mm hand gun. Anand noticed this and ran into his bedroom to get his shotgun.
The terrorist gunman followed and fired at him six times at close range. Anand died on the spot. The terrorists attackers stole his shotgun and then fled. The attack took place in front of a large number of villagers who were out to buy food.
Police blamed separatist terrorists militants. |