Bangkok Post

THE FALLEN: The uniforms of three police officers killed in Friday’s bombing attack are placed on trays at a funeral for the victims at Yala’s Muang municipality office Saturday.

The three officers, including Rueso deputy superintendent Pol Lt Col Chakkrit Wongprommate, 49, were killed in the attack on Friday morning.

The three were returning from a security detail at Ban Rueso School. A remote-controlled bomb buried in the road was triggered as their vehicle passed.

Narathiwat police chief Pol Maj Gen Wichai Kasemwong said he believed the attack was carried out by an insurgent group led by Mazukarueno Yakumo.

Three other suspects identified as members of the same group and allegedly involved in the attack were Masufian Yakumo, Ropae-ing Useng, and Humdun Maero. Mr Masufian is an elder brother of Mr Mazukarueno.

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A combined security force had been hunting the suspects who were believed to have fled to a mountain range that lies between Rueso district and Si Sakhon district but the team did not find any trace of the suspects.

The hunt continued and the team was reinforced with sniffer dogs.

In neighbouring Pattani province, more stringent security patrol activities were being carried out on roads leading to the province's city centre.

A check for traces of bombs was carried out at every bridge and parts of the roads regarded as being susceptible to attacks.

Thapani Khiriwong, the girlfriend of Pol Lt Col Chakkrit Wongprommate, the 49-year-old deputy superintendent of Rueso police station who was one of the three victims of Friday's attack, said he had dedicated his time to the work he loved - serving the public.

She said she was accustomed to him returning home late at night and said that at times this was due because a serious situation had developed.

Wanichaya Rithiwong, a police volunteer with Rueso police station, said it was impossible to fully express all of the good that Pol Lt Col Chakkrit had done.

He was always strong and sacrificed for his work, she said, adding that she remembered him telling her that he would remain in the violence-plagued region to help locals even if it cost him his life.

Meanwhile, a government informant was killed in a shooting in Yala on Saturday morning, police said.

The attack occurred at about 7am at Ban Kuwing in tambon Baroh of Yaha district, said Pol Sub-Lt Montri Vichitveshakarn, an investigator at Yaha police station.

The victim was identified as Marorsi Ror-ying, 37, a resident of the village. He was shot twice in the head and torso.

ROAD WAR: National police chief Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew, fourth from left, inspects a bridge in Narathiwat’s Reuso district where a bomb attack killed three police officers on Friday.

National police chief Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew leads a ceremony for bathing rites to prepare the funerals of the three slain policemen.