Eight others arrested in raids on 2 villages
POST REPORTERS
YALA : Six suspected members of the militant group Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) were killed in three separate clashes with security forces yesterday.
A 200-strong team of police, rangers and soldiers mounted raids on Ban Bang Lang and Tanyong Nakaw villages in tambon Bacho in Yala's Bannang Sata district about 6am after a tip-off that RKK leaders and members were hiding there.
One suspect in each village was killed during an exchange of gunfire, while eight other suspects were taken into custody. Firearms and ammunition were also confiscated. The remaining suspects escaped.
One of the two dead suspects was Korseng, alias Masuedee, Apibanbae, who was identified as an RKK leader.
Investigators said violence flared up again later when a group of senior police officers, led by assistant police chief Pol Lt-Gen Adul Saengsingkaew, were inspecting the raided villages as the troops hunted for the fleeing suspects.
Four suspected militants were killed in a fresh exchange of gunfire, while four police officers were wounded.
A number of weapons were confiscated, police said.
The wounded officers were rushed to Bannang Sata hospital. One of them, Pol Capt Sorachat Pimthong, was in a critical condition and was transferred to Yala hospital.
Meanwhile, a female resident of Pataerayo village in Yala's Raman district was shot dead while tapping rubber in a plantation yesterday morning.
Also in Yala, a janitor at Lidon tambon administration organisation in Muang district was shot and wounded while leaving home for work on Sunday night.
In Pattani, a timber trader was shot dead in Panare district yesterday.
In Narathiwat, police investigators summoned 30 witnesses to give accounts about the attack on the Sungai Kolok-Yala train on Saturday which left four people dead.
Arrest warrants are expected to be issued in the next few days, the investigators said.
The State Railway of Thailand has decided to suspend services in the three southernmost provinces indefinitely.
Local people now have to rely on passenger vans and taxis, which have already increased fares.
Pairat Rojcharoenngam, the SRT's public relations chief, said security measures will be increased at southern train stations.
Mr Pairat said although services to the far South have been suspended, there are no changes to the Bangkok-Hat Yai route.
The Transport Co has promised to provide extra buses to serve passengers in the troubled areas to Hat Yai station until normal rail services resume, Mr Pairat added.
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