Two rangers killed and four injured in Narathiwat
Two para-military rangers were killed and four others were injured in two separate bombing attacks in Narathiwat province on January 6-7. The two deaths were the first since the dawn of the New Year.
The first incident took place at about 11.50 am on January 6 on road No 4060 in Ban Dusongmajae in Si Sakhon district.
A para-military ranger unit was on foot patrol on the road until they arrived at a temporary outpost where they stopped for a break. Then the unit split up with a group of three namely Maneethorn Kanchana, Damrong Chanthima and Ritthipong Mitkaew scouring surrounding area.
A plastic basket which is used to contain fruits was found under a rubber tree along the road. Out of curiosity, the three rangers went toward the basket to investigate but when Maneethorn lifted the basket up, an improvised explosive device which was planted nearby exploded killing Maneethorn and wounding his two colleagues.
In the second incident which took place the following day in Cha-nae district. A ranger unit was dispatched to a police kiosk in Tambon Dosongyor with an order to repair the kiosk.
As the rangers were repairing the kiosk, a home-made bomb which was planted by suspected militants at a fence in front of the kiosk was detonated. Then suspected militants who were hiding nearby opened up with their assault rifles at the kiosk.
The firefight lasted briefly before the militants retreated into the jungle. Three rangers were found wounded with bomb shrapnels and gunshots but one of them, Apichai Jinnupong, was pronounced dead shortly after he arrived at Narathiwatratchanakarin hospital.
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Caption : The funeral of Apichai Jinnupong