Three police killed while trying to defuse bomb in Pattani

A Special Forces unit patrolling in Yala's Banang Sta district was ambushed, resulting in one death and six injuries.

The one victim was identified as army First Lt Chartchai Krachangsut, 45, who died on the way to the hospital.

He was part of a unit dispatched to Tambon Talingchan to help local residents with weapons training. A Muslim family on a motorbike was passing by at the time of the blast, resulting in the injuries of the three. The bomb was believed to have been set off remotely.

Similar incident took place in Pattani's Panarae district when a unit on patrol came across a bomb buried at the foot of a bridge and found 200 metres of electric wire.

As the bomb squad cut off mobile phone signal one officer stumbled on a huge rock at the foot of the bridge, thus, immediately set off the powerful blast that instantly killed three BPP officers. The blast sent two officers flying, knocking them off the road and into the river below, while ten other soldiers hit the ground for cover.

The victims include Pol Senior Sgt Major Kitisak Luanseng, 39, and Pol Captain Chana Patharat, 42, and Senioir Sgt Major Wirat Kongiertm 43.

 The 15kilogramme bomb left a two metre wide and one metre deep crater at the foot of the bridge. The explosive sent shrapnel in all directions.

In Yala's Municipality, Mundey Sathey, 21, a graduate of Thammawithaya School who was returning to the school to continu with his religious studies, was shot dead at the school entrance. According to the police, Mundey was shot by a gunman who posed as a student who was waiting near the school entrance. The gunman fired three shots at close range, killing him at the scene.

 Meanwile, in Pattani's Tambon Bangkao in Nong Chik district, Amporn Phiboonsiri, 49, was shot dead at close range by a gunman riding pillion on a motorbike and fired one shot, killing her on the spot, as they approached her from behind.

In Pattani's Mai Kaen district, gunmen strike at a Marine compound for about ten minutes. No injuries were reported from the gunfight.

In Narathiwat's Rusoh district, the remaining three Budhist teachers from Pracha Pattani Elementary School put in for transfer, saying they no longer feel safe following the shooting death of two teachers on Tuesday.

Thawatchai Ekthananond, 50, and a Muslim teacher, Monthree Jarong, 41, were shot dead by gunman on Tuesday as they were about to assemble leave the school compound with the rest of the staff.

It has become standard practice for public school teachers in the deep South to travel as a group to and from school for security reasons amid the ongoing spate of insurgent attacks.

More than 2,600 people have been killed in the region since January 2004, including at least 73 public school teachers. A similar number have also survived attempts on their lives during the same period.