More than 300 women and their children stage a five-hour-long protest in Pattani’s Yarang district yesterday to demand the release of a suspect arrested on Saturday for the April 21 bombing that killed four soldiers.

About 200 Muslim villagers staged an angry protest in Pattani's Nong Chik district yesterday in the aftermath of a mosque attack that left one dead and three others injured.

The demonstrators later dispersed without incident after authorities promised to bring the assailants to justice.

A mosque-keeper was killed and three others injured when shots were fired and a grenade thrown at Kubae Bo-ngo mosque on Saturday night.

The incident occurred on the evening of the third anniversary of a crackdown that killed 32 anti-government militants at the landmark Krue Se mosque in Pattani.

Police yesterday identified the dead man as Saman Yusoh, 67. Pattani Governor Panu Uthairat described Saman as a respected local figure.

"He had just received a government-sponsored award as an outstanding person of Nong Chik. The assailants likely targeted him because of his cooperation with authorities," the governor said.

Hours after the mosque attack, about 200 villagers staged a protest in the district demanding the assailants be brought to justice swiftly. Protesters dispersed after senior provincial officials promised action.

Meanwhile, there was another protest in Yarang district of Pattani. About 100 Muslim villagers rallied to demand the release of a man arrested in connection with a bomb attack on an Army personnel vehicle that killed four soldiers in Pattani on April 21.

The protesters, many of them women and children, blocked a section of the Pattani-to-Yala road at Baan Koh Bortor at about 10am. They demanded the unconditional release of Doha Nipi, 43, who was arrested on Saturday in connection with the attack.

Hundreds of government troops, including women police commandos, were dispatched to the protest.

Demonstrators agreed to disperse after about four hours, following negotiations mediated by community leaders and provincial officials. Police refused to give in to their demands to release the suspect.

Shortly after the demonstration, fire destroyed the headquarters of the Tambon Mohmawi Administrative Organisation about five kilometres from the protest. Police believe the fire was arson.

Fire broke out at Baan Rahanyamu School in Yarang district at about 3pm causing slight damage to a classroom, according to police.

In neighbouring Yala province, a fire believed to be arson burned down four classrooms at Baan Johbantang School in Bannang Sata district. No casualties were reported.