Officers investigating the attack said the bomb, hidden under a coconut tree, was exploded by mobile phone when the two officers rode by on their motorbikes while on patrol. Corporal Niwat Racha-nipon received injuries to his left arm and leg. Police suspect Muslim militants were behind the attack.

Meanwhile, two rubber farmers, Supon Promsakul, 52, and his wife, Chaluay Promsakul, 50, were critically injured when gunmen shot them as they returned to their farm in Narathiwat’s Tak Bai district. The husband and wife were on a motorcycle when gunmen drove up behind them and fired four rounds from a 9-mm pistol.

Police also said Dam Sunsakul, a Tambon Administration Organisation official, was shot dead in the same area, prompting them to speculate that the same people were responsible for both attacks.

In another incident, Niyom Petchmanee, 46, an electrician from Narathiwat’s Rusoh district, was shot dead while checking an electricity metre. Investigating officers said two gunmen, who also stole Niyom’s motorcycle, shot him four times from behind.

Police also reported that Mahamloh Mayusoh, 29, a victim of a bomb blast at a teashop in Narathiwat’s Sungai Padi on Saturday, died yesterday after spending two nights in the intensive-care unit at Sungai Kolok Hospital. He is survived by his two sons, who are now orphans, as their mother, Sunaidah Kareepeh, 22, was also killed at the teashop.

Another man injured in the teashop blast also died yesterday, police said.
In Yala, Pherm Saratham, 44, an electrician from Raman district, was injured after being shot by two gunmen on a motorcycle.

The Nation
Pattani