YALA: Two suspects in security cases were killed in a shootout with security forces in Muang district on Tuesday morning.
Soldiers, police and local officials surrounded a community behind a markaz, or Islamic dawah centre, in tambon Sateng Nok around 3am. They were acting on information insurgents were hiding in the area.
Shortly afterwards, gunfire erupted as they clashed with armed men.
When the shooting stopped, two men named on arrest warrants in security cases were dead.
One of the men killed was later named as Nasarulor Kaseng, whose former name was Maya Kaseng, 37. He was found dead on the roof of a house. The other man was Nimaesa, 44, a former uztad, an Islamic teacher, who was found dead inside a house.
Authorities also found two guns, one an M16 A1 assault rifle, and some pipe bombs, a spokesman said.
Pol Maj Gen Thinnakorn Rangmart, commander of Yala police, immediately ordered police stations, special operations checkpoints and public service units to be on full alert. He believed insurgents might plan a retaliatory attack.
Soldiers look at a chart showing details of the security operation. (Photo: Abdullah Benjakat)