NARATHIWAT - Five paramilitary rangers were killed and six civilians injured when a group of heavily armed men on a pickup truck attacked a security checkpoint in Rangae district of this southern border province on Wednesday night.
Six black-clad men riding in a black Nissan pickup truck launched the attack on the Bukeh Sami checkpoint in tambon Tanyong Mat at 6.45pm, firing guns and throwing pipe bombs, according to the Region 4 forward command of the Internal Security Operations Command.
Killed in the attack were SM1 Theerayoot Somakerd and four volunteer rangers: Sakeereeya Jehna, Wimol Dapthong, Nathasit Kaeosena and Solahuding Pi. The six injured civilians included two children.
The attackers then fled on Highway 4055 towards tambon Dusongyor. Security authorities were hunting for the attackers.
The violent incident followed a car bomb attack near a police station in Muang district of Narathiwat Tuesday night.
Col Ekwarit Chobchupol, deputy spokesman for the Region 4 forward command, condemned the “cruel and inhumane” attack, saying it happened in a community area and the perpetrators were ignorant of the suffering of innocent people.
An estimated 7,700 people have been killed in violent incidents since insurgent activity in the three southern border provinces was revived in 2004.
The Thai government has been attempting to restart the stalled peace process, by renewing talks with the insurgency umbrella group Barisan Revolusi Nasional.
Thanut Suvarnananda, Thailand’s new lead negotiator, has said the negotiating team would take into consideration advice from all groups affected by southern violence.
