A manhunt is under way for a drug suspect who shot two police officers during a raid on a raft on Lam Pao river in Tha Khantho district of Kalasin on Thursday evening.
One policeman was wounded in the arm and the other fell into the river and is still missing.
Local police were alerted to the shooting at around 6.30pm.
Arriving at the scene they found locals tending to a 30-year-old man who had been shot in his left arm. He was identified as Pol Sen Sgt Maj Pramote Thipmongkol, an anti-drugs officer of Police Region 4’s Investigation Subdivision 2.
It turned out that he and Pol Cpl Saran Muthakorn, of the same unit, had gone there to arrest Suriyan Lekpet, a drug suspect believed to be hiding on a raft with his wife, Panthong Lekpet, on Lam Pao River.
Mr Suriyon had earlier been granted bail by a court on a drug charge but had subsequently fled.
Kalasin police commander Montri Charanphong said the two officers were met by Ms Panthong when they arrived at the raft. When they began asking where her husband was Mr Suriyan emerged from inside and shot both of them. Pol Sen Sgt Maj Pramote was hit in the arm and Pol Cpl Saran fell in the river.
The suspect’s wife was taken into custody for questioning, Pol Maj Gen Montri said.
“I have given an order to mobilise a force to hunt down the suspect,” the provincial police commander said.
Pol Cpl Saran had not been seen since he fell in the river. All efforts were being made to find him.
A rescue worker told Jor Sor 100 radio station the water is 5-6 metres deep at the place the police corporal fell in, with a lot of weeds underwater.
