Home-made bombs killed one military ranger in Yala province and slightly injured another in Narathiwat on Friday morning. Both men were members of patrols assigned to protect teachers.
Police show evidence found in Rangae district of Narathiwat province at the scene of a bomb explosion that killed a military ranger on Friday. (Photo by Wadao Harai)
Cpl Natthapong Longkaew was killed instantly by a bomb explosion about 7.30am near Ban Bangosinae. He was part of an eight-member team on foot patrol on a road between Yaha district of Yala and Ban Neang in Muang district, Pol Lt Col Prasom Luangpool, chief investigator of Yaha police station said.
Security authorities check the crime scene after a bomb killed a ranger. (Photo by Wadao Harai)
Police found pieces of a fire extinguisher and scorched electrical wires at the crime scene. They believed the bomb was detonated by a signals from a mobile phone.
The ranger patrol was checking the road to ensure the safety of teachers being taken to schools in the area.
Another bomb, also believed to be triggered by a mobile phone, went off 10 minutes earlier at Ban Jekae in Rangae district of Narathiwat province while 12 rangers were walking along a local road to protect teachers at the school in the village, Snr Sgt Maj Rachakal Sitthichan told Rangae police.
Snr Sgt Maj Rachakal believed that an insurgent sitting in a teashop with other locals secretly triggered the bomb by mobile phone before quickly departing the scene.
Pol Col Jiradet Phrasawang, chief of Rangae police, also blamed insurgents.