Two alleged members of a Muslim Harong Ha, 23, thought to be one of the attackers who raided an army unit on Jan 19 which left four soldiers dead, was gunned down in the clash between army rangers and about six RKK members led by Maroso Chantrawadee in areas near the Budo mountain range. Other RKK members were wounded.
The battle took place after Col Paisan Nusang, commander of the 45th Regiment Ranger Forces, was informed that Mr Maroso, a leading RKK member and his accomplices, threatened villagers to give them food before fleeing to shelter along the Budo Mountains.
Col Paisan ordered combined forces of army rangers and Narathiwat special task unit to search the area. The forces exchanged gunfire with the RKK members they encountered.
A M16 assault rifle was in Mr Harong's hand. The rifle was later identified as one of the weapons stolen in early 2004 at a military outpost in Narathiwat.
Other two M16s were also found there. They were military weapons disappeared from the Ror 15121 army outpost in Ban Marue Botok on Jan 19.
In a another attack, a combined force of police and a special military task force had a shootout with more RKK members in Ruso district. One RKK member was shot.
The gun battle occurred when the defense unit was inspecting a rubber plantation after it was reported that Mana Samae and Amdan Maelao, two top RKK members, and some accomplices involved in the Jan 19th Narathiwat army outpost attack, stayed in the area.
After a 20-minute gun battle, one RKK member in a black uniform was found dead with an M16 near his body. The rifle was one of those missing from a military camp in Narathiwat's Cho Ai Rong district in early 2004.
Meanwhile, a series of killings have been reported elsewhere.
Pol Sgt Kittisak Singdam of Yi-ngo Police Station was gunned down by four attackers on two motorcycles in front of a mosque in Yi-ngo.
| The Nation: The attackers passed themselves as Muslim worshipers who came to pray at the mosque. He was shot at his head and body in front of around 100 Muslim worshipers. |
In Panare district, Budrudin Hayeeduerae, a 27 year-old Muslim was gunned down in a flea market. Police have yet to determine the cause of the assault, as leaflets were dropped on roads in Saiburi, urging Buddhists to kill Muslims to retaliate for the killing of Buddhists in Panare on Feb 3.
In Yala, Mahama Jae-ngao, a 32-year-old village defense volunteer was gunned down in Yala's provincial seat. An investigation showed that the victim's 9mm pistol was taken after the shooting.
| Three gunned down and set on fire in Pattani |
Boontien Buphawas, a 43-year-old teacher, was the 139th education worker killed in the past seven years.