Woman killed, 2 men hurt as insurgents ambush truck

SOUTH

PATTANI : A woman has been killed and two men wounded in an ambush by suspected insurgents in Yarang district.

Police said the three were among 10 villagers travelling in a pickup truck to work yesterday in Muang district. The vehicle was attacked by armed men hiding in a forest as it neared a bridge in Ban Limanipis.

Nit Tinchana, 45, succumbed to her injuries while Chop Jandi and Pian Boonprom were being treated at Yala General Hospital.

Also in Pattani, police arrested Mahama Babae, 35, who is subject to an arrest warrant for attempted murder and involvement in the insurgency.

Mr Mahama denied the charges, but police cited witnesses as saying he parked a motorcycle carrying a bomb opposite Khok Pho district police station on Oct5. Seventeen people were injured in the ensuing blast.

In nearby Yala, the atmosphere at Phimolchai market in Muang district remained quiet yesterday with vendors and customers still gripped by fear after a motorcycle bomb attack on Monday left 25 people injured.

Vegetable vendor Boonruen Dampan, 48, who was among the injured, said his income had plunged from 400 baht a day to just 40 baht, but he had no other choice than to continue selling his goods.

"I'm discouraged, but have no idea where to go," Mr Boonruen said.

"I'm ageing. I don't know where to start over."

Phimolchai market has suffered four bomb attacks since 2007 and Muang Mai market in Betong district has been attacked twice.

Authorities have tightened security at markets and are being more careful in their inspections of vehicles entering the area. Security officers and community volunteers have been told to help patrol the areas around the clock.

In another development, police yesterday took Muhammadhalawi Kamalording, 28, who is suspected of murder and illegal weapons possession, to surrender to Yala governor Krisada Boonrat so legal proceedings can begin.

Police accused Mr Muhammadhalawi of shooting dead a villager on Jan 9, 2006. He has denied the charge.