Pattani’s taskforce 22 lightens the mood by placing a doll dressed like a soldier at a checkpoint in Yaring district. Despite the recent violence, the doll has drawn lots of smiles from drivers and passers-by.

Tambon chief Theerawat Waekachi, 52, was outside a teashop in front of his house in Sai Buri district with five other villagers when a gunman walked up to him and fired four rounds from a 9mm pistol into his head and body. He died later at the hospital.

Theerawat's friend, Suding Chemama, 29, who was trying to help him, was shot in the chest and is now in hospital, said investigating officials.

Officials suspected Muslim militants were behind the attack.

In a separate incident in Narathiwat's Joh I Rong district yesterday, truck driver Somjet Suwanroj, 29, was critically injured in a drive-by shooting.

Somjet was relaxing in the cabin of his truck as it was being loaded with rubber trees when two suspected Muslim insurgents on a motorbike pulled up alongside.

One of the men climbed up to the cab and fired five rounds from a .38mm pistol, shattering the front windshield and rear windows. Somjet was hit twice in the chest and was rushed to a local hospital.

Meanwhile, in Muang district, a 20-kilogram bomb was found in front of a local restaurant near Pattani's child welfare centre. Fortunately it had malfunctioned and officials were able to dispose of it.

Ladda Sangkharat, 40, said her husband would in future check the area around the restaurant every day. She said they were both in shock.

Police said more officers would patrol the area in the future on the look out for terrorist activity.

The Nation

Pattani