One dead, two injured in restive South

About six militants fended off a combined force of 150 soldiers during the standoff that ended when the insurgents retreated into the jungle, leaving behind one dead.

The security forces were dispatched to Tambon Rusoh district after receiving intelligence reports that a number of insurgents had hid weapons in the area. The search turned into a fierce gun battle.

The two injured officers were identified as Pol Major Nopsran Artsanjorn, 42, and Pol Sgt Sombat Kaewnoo, 38, both of whom were assigned to the Rusoh district police station. The dead militant was identified as Mahamah Cheputeh, 45, a resident of Rusoh.

About 20 minutes later, after the insurgents retreated, police found the dead militant with a 9mm handgun in the house which he and the others were using as cover.

Blood trails, possibly from injured militants, and dozens of empty casings of M16 and AK47 bullets were found scattered all over the floor, police said.

Police detained Koyar Hawae, 37, the owner of the house for questioning.

In Narathiwat's Bacho district, gunman shot dead Dejdamrong Samoh, a resident of Tambon Kok Keang in Narathiwat's Muang district. His body was found on the side of a back road in Bacho district.

The Nation