Article 68

More troops sent to militants' area

Highway officer shot dead by men on bike

POST REPORTERS

Narathiwat _ A combined military force was dispatched to Ban Ai Batu in Sungai Padi district yesterday in a new move aimed at weakening local militants' networks.

The operation comes after a unit of paramilitary rangers was forced to flee the village in Narathiwat on Sunday after protest by villagers who accused them of shooting and wounding a local woman.

Pisarn Wattanawongkeeree, the Fourth Army chief, said he believed many people in the village were hard-core Muslim militants responsible for a spate of violence in border provinces since early this year.

The combined forces sent to Ban Ai Batu comprised soldiers from the Ubon Ratchathani-based 6th Infantry Regiment's 1st battalion and para-military rangers.

``From the information we have, we believe the village is a hideout for the militants and a place for hiding stolen weapons,'' Lt-Gen Pisarn said.

However, one local source said the move could increase tension as local villagers were known to have strong hostility towards the military.

In Narathiwat, a highway official was shot dead by motorcycle gunmen as he was returning from work in Bacho district yesterday.

Security forces were on the lookout for possible bomb attacks in three districts.

Klin Thongdee, 58, was found dead near his motorcycle on the Bacho-Ban Thon road.

He was shot in the back and died at the scene.

Klin was driving home from work on the Ban Ton highway office when two motorcycle gunmen came from behind and fired. He was hit four times.

Police believe the gunmen had followed Klin for several days before killing him.

Meanwhile, security units were on alert after receiving intelligence reports that insurgents were plotting a spate of bomb attacks in the southern province, targeting policemen and soldiers.

A source said insurgents would plant bombs in four spots in Narathiwat; two in Ra Ngae district, one in Sungai Padi district, and one in Muang district.

The source did not say when the insurgents would strike but said the targeted locations were likely to be crowded public areas where authorities carried out heavy security patrols.

In Pattani, a man was shot to death and his friend stabbed and injured, allegedly by a drug trafficker in Sungai Kolok district.

Natthavut Samae, 26, was found dead in his car by the roadside near a swamp peat in Kapho district yesterday.

He was killed with a single.38 gunshot to his temple.

Earlier, paramilitary rangers found Madaree Laona, 31, in the swamp.

He had been wounded after a stabbing attack and was subsequently rushed to Sungai Kolok hospital.

Police said evidence suggested the assailant may have travelled with Natthavut and Madaree in the car.

He probably shot Natthavut first and turned his gun on Madaree but the barrel jammed. The attacker then stabbed Madaree who fled and hid in the swamp. The attacker made off in a getaway car. When he came across a military roadblock, he abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.