A key suspect wanted for a spate of violent attacks in the deep South was killed Sunday in a clash with security forces at his father-in-law's house in Narathiwat's Rueso district, police said.
Meanwhile, later in the day, a volunteer ranger and his brother were shot dead in Nong Chik district of Pattani.
Masukarueno Yakumo was found dead in the house with an 11mm pistol and a hand grenade next to his body as troops moved in to clear the area following a 30-minute gunfight.
The clash took place at the house in Padae Taerae village in tambon Batong of Rueso district about 5am, almost five hours after security forces sealed off the place.
Two special task forces were sent shortly after midnight to look into a tip-off that Masukarueno, an active member of insurgent group Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK), was hiding at his father-in-law's home.
He was allegedly involved in a bomb attack that killed Pol Lt Col Chakkrit Wongprommate, a former crime suppression chief at Rueso police station, and two other police officers in Rueso district on March 15, 2013. 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.
With help from local leaders, security authorities on Sunday tried to talk the suspect's wife and father-in-law into handing Masukarueno over but both denied they were providing shelter to him.
As the troops entered the house, shots were fired from inside. Masukarueno was killed in the ensuing clash. His body was found in front of the bathroom in the house.
A soldier, Cpl Pisitsak Ratchinda, 26, was wounded in the clash and sent to Rueso Hospital. The wife and the father-in-law were detained for questioning.
Shortly after the shooting local authorities led by district chief Yaya Panakho and Rueso police chief Col Ruangsak Buadaeng met residents to explain the situation.
Col Pramote Prom-in, spokesman of Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4, said authorities tried their best to avoid use of violence but were forced to act.
He said the suspect faced nine warrants during 2005-2012 in connection with violence in the deep South. The latest was issued on Oct 25, 2012. He was accused of launching an attack on an operation base in Rueso district that killed two officers and injured two others on July 17, 2012.
Col Pramote said security forces arrested another suspect Sunday in a follow-up investigation. Abdulloh Yunu was caught in Yala's Muang district shortly after the clash in Narathiwat.
In other southern violence, two brothers were shot dead by an armed group in tambon Kolotanyong, Nong Chik district of Pattani, early last evening. They were identified as Mahamasugri Musor, 29, and Mihummadsubri Musor, 27, a volunteer ranger.
Meanwhile, a monk who was among those seriously wounded in a bomb attack while on an alms round on July 25 died at Yala Hospital Sunday.
Eight people were injured when the bomb exploded near a riverside market in Pattani's Sai Buri district. Two of the injured, a monk and a solider, succumbed to their injuries. Phra Payom Suktri is the third victim to have now died from injuries received.
