Seven killed in bomb explosions and gun attacks
It was a week of bloody violence in the far South following the killing of Ma-ae Apibarnbae, a notorious extremist, and his three colleagues by security forces in Tambon Tarn To, Tarn To district of Yala province on May 20.
One day after the death of the four extremists, Mr Niphon Kongthong, a 40-year old car mechanic, was shot dead as he was riding his motorbike on his way home in Ban Klong Kuan, Nong Chik district of Pattani. An assailant, believed to be an extremist, shot the victim from the pillion of another motorcycle and then fled the scene.
On Sunday May 22, a suspected extremist, riding on the pillion of a motorcycle, shot dead Mr Pong (surname unknown) and his common law wife, Mrs Somchit Khunee-art, as they were riding on a motorcycle from their work site on their way home in Nong Chik district of Pattani.
On Tuesday May 24, two policemen were shot dead and another seriously injured in a roadside bomb blast in Tak Bai district of Narathiwat. Police said that suspected extremists who appeared to have laid in wait near a mosque detonated the bomb buried under the road when a convoy of two pick-up trucks carrying about 10 policemen, including Pol Col Nitinai Langyanai, the Su-ngai Kolok district police superintendent, passed by.
The bomb explosion missed the first truck in which Pol Col Nininai was travelling but hit the following truck, killing two policemen on board and seriously wounding the third.
The two dead victims were identified as Pol Sgt Ubonwan Chindapetch, 33, and Pol Sgt Suvich Kongsri, 38. Ms Ubonwan became the first woman policeman killed in a bomb blast in the deep South.
The policemen were on their way to meet with Muslim religious leaders and Muslim residents in Ban Taba as part of their psychological campaign to win the hearts and minds of Muslim people.
On the same day in Sai Buri district of Pattani, an assistant headman of Ban Toh Bala, 41-year old Barudin Sama, was shot dead by a man riding on the pillion of a motorcycle as he was riding his motorbike to a tea shop in the village. Police were yet to determine the motive of the killing.
On Wednesday May 25, three suspected extremists attacked an eight-man army unit as they were on foot patrol along the road in Krong Penang district, Yala, to provide protection to teachers. The assailants opened fire with assault rifles, triggering a firefight which lasted about 20 minutes.
After the gunshots died down, one patrolman was found dead at the scene. The victim was identified as Pvt Chuchart Kaewwonghiew, 21.
Also on the same day, suspected extremists exploded a road-side bomb and opened fire at a group of soldiers travelling on a Humvee jeep in Krong Penang district. The jeep was badly damaged and four soldiers were wounded.
At about 3.30 p.m. on the same day, one paramilitary ranger was wounded when suspected extremists detonated a motorcycle rigged with explosives parked at the intersection of a road in Ban Bue Su, Bannang Sata district of Yala.
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Caption : The man who was identified as Ma-ae Apibarnbae, a notorious extremist, he was killed with his three colleagues by security forces in Tambon Tarn To, Tarn To district of Yala province on May 20.