[Bangkok Post] Thai security forces killed two wanted militants in Pattani province on Monday and found an assault rifle stolen during a deadly attack at a military unit over a decade ago. Col Pramote Prom-in, spokesman for the Internal Security Operations Command, on Tuesday spoke the raid on a house to arrest two militants in Pattani's Nong Chik district on Monday. He said raid led to a gun battle at the house where the suspects were staying. When it was over, the two wanted men were found dead.
The slain militants were identified as Muhammad Chitiloh and Muhammadpaosi Samoh. Both were wanted for ambushes and bombings killing government officials and local residents, and damaging property in Pattani. Muhammadpaosi was also a bomb maker.
One of the M16 rifles found at the scene had been stolen from a military center on April 28, 2003. In the early morning on that day, about 15 militants attacked a military development center in Narathiwat province, killing five marines, wounding one and robbing the unit of 15 M16s. At approximately the same time that day, 15 other militants attacked another military development center in Yala province. They injured one soldier and stole 18 M16s and two grenade launchers.