Police officer shot in Yala, two rangers injured by explosion in Narathiwat

A traffic police officer was shot dead by southern insurgents as he was directing traffic in front of a convenience store in Krong Pinang district of Yala province on Saturday night.

Police say that the insurgents were waiting opposite the 7-Eleven store and fired one shot at 24-year-old Pol Corporal Tanyathep Sikhajarn as he left the store at about 8pm last night.

The officer was rushed to the district hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Meanwhile, in Ra-ngae district of Narathiwat province, two para-military rangers were injured by an explosion this morning, suspected to be an IED remotely detonated by insurgents.

The rangers were part of a 13-member detail, assigned to provide security at an Islamic school where a social event was being held to instill patriotism in students and local communities.

After the completion of the assignment, the rangers and the volunteers in the detail separated and returned to their barracks on foot.

As the six rangers were walking about 300 metres from the school, a roadside IED, hidden in the bushes, was detonated.

Additionally, in Mai Kaen district of Pattani province, a Thai man, identified as Nit Kamkaew, was shot dead as he was riding a motorcycle back home in Ban Thaley village this morning.