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Published on August 10, 2007

An unknown number of militants broke into the houses of Nern Sang-ampai, 82, and Jitr Dejsuwanno, 71, in Yaring district at about 1.45am. They killed the men, set the homes on fire and took the two heads away.

Police found the two headless bodies burnt beyond recognition in the wreckage.

An hour before the incident, arsonists set fire to a primary school in the same district. The fire completely destroyed a wooden building at Ban Yuering School.

Pattani has been tense since Wednesday when two officials at a public health station were shot dead. The station, at Prachan sub-district, ceased all operations yesterday.

A combined force of more than 100 military and police officers yesterday raided 28 targets in the area and took seven suspects into custody. It is not clear whether the culprits who killed the two officials were among the seven.

Meanwhile, in neighbouring Yala province, more than 150 officials raided Ban Kampan in Muang district and took five suspects into detention.

Among the five was Arifin Sani, 41, a militant cell leader, police said.

The Nation