Three militants were killed in a clash with a joint police and military force in Thung Yang Daeng district of Pattani province late Tuesday afternoon, reports said.
About 4pm, the security force raided a rubber plantation at the edge of Ban Buerangae in Moo 2, tambon Nam Dum after receiving a tip that five armed men were hiding there.
On seeing the soldiers and police, the armed men opened fire on them. The two sides exchanged gunfire for about 10 minutes, after which the militants retreated, leaving behind one body. A 9mm pistol was found near the body.
The security force followed the fleeing armed men deeper into the rubber plantation and a second gun battle esnued. After a three-hour clash, authorities found two dead bodies, each holding a 9mm pistol in their hands.
Relatives of the three dead men later confirmed that they were Sagareeya Jehmaeh, Manusi Kasa and Abdul Asi Salah.
The security force also arrested Abdul Rorman Sala, 26, who fled from the clash scene to hide in a nearby house. He was wanted under an arrest warrant for violating the Criminal Code.
Police were hunting for the fleeing last armed man.
Police said they had earlier received a report that attacks were planned on military outposts in Pattani, and it was likely the group destroyed by the security force was involved.