NARATHIWAT -- A suspected core member of the RKK separatist group was killed in an exchange of gunfire with a government force in Rueso district late on Saturday night.
Col Pasit Chanlekha, the 46th Ranger Regiment commander, said a team of rangers laid siege to a two-storey house at Lamaeng village in tambon Batong on obtaining information that a group of separatist suspects, led by Mahama Maero, aka Ahama Maero, were hiding there.
On seeing the rangers approaching, the four to five suspects in the house opened fire. An exchange of shots followed for about 10 minutes. The surviving suspects fled through the rear of the house, leaving behind the body of Mahama.
A .38 pistol was found near the body.
The rangers detained three men from a house nearby for questioning.