One police officer was killed and his colleague was wounded early Monday after a brief exchange of gunfire with The violence occurred as a police unit headed by Pol. Col. Piyawat Chalermsri, provincial police superintendent, raided a house in Ruso district after being tipped off that insurgents who had earlier killed two soldiers on December 29 might have taken shelter in the house. A hail of gunfire was fired as the police prepared to break into the house, the exchange lasting for about 10 minutes. Sgt-Maj. Thanat died of gunshot wounds. Police reinforcements arrived later to pursue the group of assailants who fled into the nearby mountains.
Forensic experts found more than 60 spent shell casings for M16 and AK47 weapons at the scene, collecting them as evidence for further investigation.