A military ranger was shot dead yesterday during a raid in Trat.
The body of military ranger Wuthinan Sriprasit, 25, lies on the ground after he was shot dead in an orchard during a raid at a house in Trat’s Khao Saming district yesterday. Jakkrit Waewkraihong
The shooting occurred as security officials were hunting for those responsible for a deadly attack on the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) gathering in the district in February.
Two suspects were detained though authorities have not revealed their identities.
A gun and grenade attack at the PDRC rally site in Khao Saming district on Feb 22 left two people dead and at least 35 injured.
Acting on a tip-off that three of those involved in the attack were holed up in a house in tambon Praneet, a combined force of marines and military rangers took up position.
Two suspects were apprehended first, while another hid in an orchard next to the house.
As security forces were fanning out in the area, the suspect who was hiding behind a banana trees shot and killed ranger Wuthinan Sriprasit, 25, about 100 metres from the house, before fleeing.
Chanthaburi-Trat Border Defence Command deputy chief Nopporn Wuthironnarit said army intelligence suggested the suspects were linked to the PDRC rally attack in Khao Saming district.
A military outfit, a pocket knife, a scarf with the message "Democracy Defence" emblazoned on it, and a red headband were found in the house.
Deputy national police chief Ek Angsananon said police are stepping up their investigation into possible links between the Trat attack and the recent seizures of war weapons.
Pol Gen Ek said an M3 machine gun confiscated at a rented room in Samut Sakhon's Krathum Baen district on Wednesday was used in the attack at the Khao Saming rally site. The gun was test-fired, and a link found, he said.
The M3 was among a large amount of weapons and explosives seized in the room rented by Chanthana Warakornskulkij, 44.
Ms Chanthana told police she loved collecting weapons and she had bought them over time, mostly from border areas in Tak and Ratchaburi provinces. She denied being involved in causing violence.
Meanwhile, Phaya Thai police were alerted to a grenade found at a bus stop on Si Ayutthaya Road near the Ratchaprarop intersection about 6.30am yesterday.
Officers found an M67 grenade with its safety pin removed wrapped in adhesive tape behind the bus stop. The device was removed and sent for laboratory tests.
Phaya Thai police investigator Pol Lt Athipob Chansoda said the owner of the grenade may have left the device at the bus stop for fear of being arrested at a joint army-police security checkpoint nearby.
Investigators will review CCTV footage to try to identify the owner, he said.
Meanwhile, 2nd Army Region troops and police officers have beefed up security on main roads from Nakhon Ratchasima to Bangkok, setting up 11 checkpoints.
Security forces are checking vehicles heading to Bangkok for weapons and to examine travellers' identification cards.
The move is to prevent people from outlying provinces causing unrest in the capital.
The increased security measures followed the arrest of 23 red-shirt members with arms and explosives in Khon Kaen on Friday.