Brazen daytime attack leaves cop dead
A police sergeant was killed during a bold daytime attack at Napradu police station in tambon Thung Phala of Khok Pho district in Narathiwat yesterday. Pol Capt Somchai Duangtud, a duty officer, said the attack occurred at 12.35pm, when at least six men on three motorcycles drove by the station and opened fire with militarygrade weapons. Pol Sgt Chalermpol Khomkham was killed at the scene. Police teams have been deployed to hunt down the culprits. Meanwhile, investigators have also recovered a number of bullet shells from a road in front of the station. Pol Lt Gen Ronnasilp Phusara, commissioner of the Provincial Police Region 9 (PPR9), inspected the site of the shooting, for which insurgents are believed to be responsible, according to Pol Col Krissana Pattanacharoen, the deputy police spokesman. The commissioner has ordered local police in the PPR9 jurisdiction to step up security at police stations, communities, and key public sites. Meanwhile, stricter inspections will also be carried out at roadside checkpoints on both main and feeder roads, the deputy spokesman said. The shooting comes on the back of a warning by the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) of possible attacks by insurgents in Sungai Kolok, Tak Bai and Muang districts of Narathiwat between Jan 13-15. The Isoc has also urged local authorities and residents to be on the lookout for stolen motorcycles, which insurgents may use to launch bomb attacks.