Insurgents sought after fatal attack

Authorities are hunting suspected insurgents who on Tuesday attacked a military unit providing protection for teachers in Pattani province’s Mae Lan district, killing one man.

The Internal Security Operations Command’s Region 4 Forward Command said yesterday that nine soldiers had raided a hut believed to be a hideout in Than To district of Yala, to arrest those suspected of being responsible for the fatal explosion.

Three suspects fled and troops later removed two short guns, plus ammunition from the hut, according to the Forward Command’s deputy spokesman, Col Watcharakorn Oanngern.

Improvised explosive devices were placed on the ground along an irrigation canal, hidden in thick grass.

They were triggered when a ranger volunteer walked past, he said.

The victim was identified as Mucharin Srikaeo, 29, who was patrolling the area on foot to ensure security for teachers of Ban Khwan Plaeng Ngu School.

The ranger volunteer was severely wounded and died later in hospital, he said.

After the incident, police found a motorcycle 250 metres from the scene.

They believe the bombers used it to escape after remotely detonating the bombs, said Col Watcharakorn.

The Santisuk Special Task Force had warned that insurgent commanders had issued bombing and shooting orders in Khok Pho, Mae Lan and Nong Chik districts of Pattani.

Military intelligence said incidents were expected to happen from July 8-15.

There have been six bombing incidents along the irrigation canal since 2013. The most recent one took place on Dec 6, 2018, also in Mae Lan district, killing one soldier.

The first in the latest spate of attacks was in December 2013, when an explosive device killed a ranger. Intelligence suggests the bombers are still active in the area.