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The curfew was lifted between September 12 and October 21 for the holy month so that residents could perform religious activities in the evening.

Internal Security Operations Command spokesman Acra Thiproch said the relaxation had ended and as of Monday restrictions in the two districts would resume.

The curfew was imposed on March 15 following a dramatic increase in violence. It restricts movement between 8pm and 4am.

Security officials believe many militants live in the two districts.

Acra said the curfew would be lifted permanently if residents cooperated with authorities to "restore normalcy".

Local religious leaders opposed the curfew and said it did not help contain violence and was a great inconvenience for residents.

"I see no necessity to resume the curfew since there was no major incident during Ramadan. Without the curfew, I think the situation improved," said Nimu Makajeh, former deputy chairman of the Yala Islamic Committee.

However, a policeman was shot dead in nearby Raman district Sunday. Sgt-Major Phuvarich Yusoh, 38, was shot by suspected militants aboard a motorcycle while he was travelling along a rural road in Ban Pataerayoh. He died instantly, police said.

In neighbouring Narathiwat, 100 police and soldiers raided a village in Muang district and arrested Aryi Pohchi, suspected of being a member of the Mayaki Yako narcotics syndicate at the centre of allegations that officials stole tens of millions of baht seized in a drugs raid.

Officials confiscated a kilogram of marijuana, a gold necklace, pistol, 2,079 Malaysian ringgits (Bt19,500) and Bt80,889, two bank passbooks and a motorbike believed to belong to Aryi.

Commander Bounkert Munlakan, head of the 33rd Special Task Force, said Aryi confessed to being a member of the drug ring and using money raised to finance violence in the deep South.

Officials believe drug dealers finance militant movements for mutual gain. Since 2004, some 2,500 people have lost their lives in the insurgency. The government blames bandits, militants and drug dealers.

Police in Narathiwat's Yingor also arrested another 14 narcotics traffickers after raiding five locations in the district.

The Nation