Three police were killed and six others seriously wounded after being ambushed by insurgents in Narathiwat province Tuesday.
The dead officers were identified as Pol Capt Ekkachai Niseng, Pol Sgt Maj Anuwat Korapalong and Pol L/Cpl Ratchakrerk Arwae.
The six wounded officers are Pol Maj Withee Chuaysen, Pol Lt Amnart Lueangsanit, Pol Lt Suchart Ananprasert, Pol Cpl Theeyut Luanthong, Pol Cpl Arunratch Sombatyanuchit and Pol L/Cpl Iddris Dao.
All were attached to Chanae police station.
The attack took place in Ban Mo Sawa in tambon Bo Ngo of Rangae district about 1pm, Pol Lt Apichart Doloh, deputy inspector at Rangae police station said.
Reinforcements, a bomb disposal team and forensic police arriving at the scene found a white Toyota pickup truck crashed into a tree and peppered with bullets.
Pol Capt Ekkachai, Pol Sgt Maj Anuwat and Pol L/Cpl Ratchakrerk were found dead in the vehicle. They had been shot multiple times.
The six injured policemen were taken to Chanae hospital.
The nine policemen were on their way back to Chanae station after helping in the search for a suspect wanted in connection with the raid on Cho Airong hospital and an attack on army ranger camp 4816 on March 13.
As their pickup entered Ban Mo Sawa, attackers hidden in trees along the roadside fired an M79 grenade at the vehicle, forcing it into the tree.
The insurgents then opened fire on the vehicle, killing the three policemen and wounding the six others.
A manhunt for the insurgents is underway.
Meanwhile, army chief Teerachai Nakwanich ordered authorities in the South to step up the hunt for those involved in the March 13 attacks in Cho Airong district that left seven security volunteers and soldiers injured.
About 30 armed men are thought to have taken part in the attacks.
The attack on the hospital and other targets was believed to have been orchestrated by Arsuemee Putae, a leader of a local insurgency network, as a symbolic gesture to mark the 56th anniversary of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) insurgent group.
Gen Teerachai also condemned the recent spate of violence in the South, including Tuesday's attack, as immoral and inhumane.
Southern residents are tired of violence in their backyard and wanted peace and security restored, he said.
Gen Theerachai was speaking during a visit to Pattani's Yarang district to assess progress in government measures to address problems in the deep South, particularly insurgency violence and organised crime.
He said authorities had launched a number of crackdowns on local influential racketeers linked to illegal activities such as gambling and oil trafficking in the southern provinces, which are thought to be linked to the attacks.
Raids had been carried out by a joint force of police, military and civilian officials, Gen Teerachai said.