NARATHIWAT: A volunteer ranger was wounded in a clash with southern insurgents in an area between Rangae and Chanae districts on Friday morning.
Rangers were deployed to a mountainous area between tambon Bo-ngo in Rangae district and tambon Padungmat of Chanae district on Friday to hunt down a group of southern insurgents, numbering 5-6 , who were reportedly hiding in the area.
While patrolling the area, volunteer ranger Somsak Khlathong, 43, spotted a group of suspected insurgents walking in a rubber plantation near the forest area. He shouted to call fellow rangers to follow, but those men opened fire at him. One bullet hit the volunteer ranger in his left hip and pierced through his right leg. He and other patrol members returned fire.
After the brief exchange of gunfire, the armed men fled. The wounded volunteer ranger was rushed to a nearby hospital.
The rangers found more than 20 spent M16 cartridges scattered over the area. A home-made pipe bomb was also found. A bomb disposal team was called in to destroy the explosive.
Col Issara Chanthakrayom, commander of the 45th Ranger Regiment’s task force, said southern insurgents, led by Muhamad Khadae, were active in Rangae district.
They targeted security officers and civilians. On May 5, wild product collector Thanom Suksathan, 42, was shot dead on a local road in tambon Bo-ngo of Rangae district in what was believed to be the work of this group, said Col Issara.
(Photo by Waedao Harai)