PATTANI: Four suspected insurgents were shot dead in gunfights on Friday night and yesterday morning as security forces closed in on a fifth suspect.
The first clash followed an earlier gunfight in which three soldiers were wounded while security forces were hunting for the perpetrators of a bombing that killed a ranger on Thursday.
Two more armed men were shot dead and weapons seized in Yarang district of Pattani on Saturday morning as police officers resumed the operation to arrest the suspects.
Earlier in the day, residents were evacuated to a safe area amid reports the suspects were heavily armed, said Maj Gen Pramote Prom-in, spokesman for the Region 4 Forward Command of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc).
Maj Gen Kriangkrai Srirak, deputy director of the Region 4 Forward Command, travelled to Yarang district yesterday morning to monitor the situation as the gunfight carried on.
Maj Gen Pramote identified the men shot dead on Friday as Masukee Sarumor, believed to be the head of the Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) insurgent movement, who was wanted on two arrest warrants in security-related cases; and Anwar Kolae, an operational member, who was also wanted. The identities of the two men shot yesterday are still being verified.