YALA: A border patrol policeman was killed by insurgents waiting for a target while he was out to inspect a suspicious object in Than To district on Monday.
Than To police said Pol Sen Sgt Maj Pirunrat Putthisiri rode his motorcycle from his station at Ban Sri Tha Nam School to check a cooking gas cylinder left by the roadside after an alert from local residents.
An unknown number of insurgents who were waiting there killed him, they added.
Police found his vehicle at the scene but did not see his M16 rifle, pistol and bulletproof vest. They were believed to have been taken by the assailants.
The cylinder was found not far from the area. It was filled with sand.
Police believed it was used as a decoy to lure authorities into the ambush.