A militant was killed and two weapons seized in a clash between rangers and a group of separatist rebels in Chanae district of Narathiwat province on Tuesday morning.
The clash occurred about 7.20am after a 30-strong rangers unit led by Maj Wichit Kongnoon, commander of Rangers Company 4603, combed the Ire Kalo mountain range in tambon Chang Phuak in a search for separatist camps.
After climbing uphill for about three kilometres, the patrol spotted three huts. On seeing the rangers, about six armed men in the huts opened fire on them. The two sides exchanged gunfire for about 10 minutes, after which the militants retreated, leaving behind one body.
The body was identified as that of Mahama Sukuri Moheng, 28, of tambon Dusongyo in Chanae district, who is wanted under several warrants for violation of the emergency decree. A .22 pistol was found by his body.
In a subsequent search, the rangers found communication radio sets in the first hut, which was equipped with an antenna.
Found in the second hut were one M16 rifle with 122 rounds of ammunition, one 9mm pistol with 36 bullets, three mobile phones, camouflage uniforms, medical supplies, field gear and a stretcher.
The M16 rifle and 9mm pistol were found to have been stolen from the camp of the 4th Development Battalion at Ban Lipeng in Cho Airong district of Narathiwat province in a separatist attack on Jan 4, 2004.
In a separate incident, about 10.30am a patrol vehicle of Infantry Company 3122 of Narathiwat Task Force 37 carrying 10 soldiers was ambushed by militants hiding on both sides of the Tueko - Kholokawe road in tambon Si Sakhon in Narathiwat's Si Sakhon district.
The driver managed to accelerate the vehicle away from the ambush site. The vehicle was hit by many bullets but nobody was hurt.