PATTANI : Security officers defused two bombs rigged to go off in downtown Muang district yesterday, but were too late to prevent a third from detonating.
An explosive device went off about 7.30pm outside a karaoke bar in Muang district's Soi 1, Ramkomut Rd, injuring one person. The bomb were apparently concealed inside a paint container.
The man, identified as Pol Chumpol, 41, suffered an eye injury and was taken to Pattani hospital.
When authorities arrived at the scene, they discovered another bomb nearby that had been placed inside a gas cylinder and loaded on to a tuk-tuk.
Eight gallons of petrol had been placed around the gas cylinder. The area was cleared before a bomb disposal crew moved in to defuse the device.
Earlier in the day, a Muang district pet food shop owner alerted officials to a suspicious object outside his store.
The bomb squad was called in around 4pm and found a two gallon drum of petrol with a fuse sticking out of it. They successfully defused the explosive.
Meanwhile, five villagers who were shot by military rangers last year have filed a lawsuit with the Songkhla Administration Court seeking 16 million baht in compensation.
Cross Cultural Foundation director Pornpen Khongkachornkiat said the army and the Prime Minister's Office were the targets of the lawsuit. She said the victims believe both state agencies should be liable for the shooting, even though they have received compensation of between 500,000 and 765,000 baht from the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre.
Nine villagers were shot by rangers on Jan 29 last year when they were travelling in a pickup truck to attend a funeral in Pattani's Nong Chik district.
The rangers were pursuing suspected insurgents who had attacked the 4302 military ranger base at Ban Namdum in tambon Pulo Puyo in the district.
The villagers were stopped by military rangers on highway No418 near Moo 1 of Ban Kayi in tambon Pulo Puyo and were fired upon by the officers.
Authorities claimed someone in the vehicle opened fire on the rangers first.