A TEAM of six policemen returning from drug investigation in Far South Narathiwat province spotted a suspicious group of men sitting in a hut at a palm plantation and upon moving in to investigate them too were hit by a volley of M16 assault rifle gunfire killing two officers and injuring three others in the ensuing clash, Amarin TV said this evening (Aug. 2).
At 11.48 a.m. Pol. Col. Pakawat Wansanuk, superintendent of Tak Bai police station, received a report of a clash at the hut in Phrai Wan subdistrict and took a bigger team to inspect the scene.
Upon arrival they found two police officers dead by the roadside, opposite the makeshift hut separated by a drainage ditch. They were identified as Pol. Sgt. Maj. Hamran Ha, a squad leader of the investigative unit at this police station, who had multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and torso; and Pol. Sgt. Maj. Witthaya Chaiphromkaew, also a squad leader of the investigative unit, who likewise had multiple gunshot wounds to the torso while crossing the bridge to the hut.
Injured were Pol. Lt. Kittipong Srikhum, who was grazed by a bullet on his left rib cage; Pol. Sgt. Maj. Traithos Kulsanthawashiri, who was grazed by a bullet on his head; and Pol.Sgt. Maj. Wannuchit Saekho, who was shot in both sides and was resting near the hut. The deceased were then moved from the scene while the injured were taken to Tak Bai Hospital. After initial first aid, they were transferred to Narathiwat Ratchanakarin Hospital for further treatment.
At the scene, they found over 10 M16 bullet casings scattered in three different locations near the hut and in the palm plantation. They also found three suspicious men, initially believed to be residing in the hut, who were being interrogated by the Marine Ranger Command in Tak Bai district to determine their involvement and knowledge of the incident.
Investigation revealed that prior to the incident, Pol. Lt. Kittipong Srikhum, deputy investigative officer at Tak Bai police station, led the team of six investigators in a pickup truck to investigate a drug-related case in the village. After completing their mission, as they were returning to the police station, they encountered this suspicious group of men sitting at the hut with several motorcycles parked on the road. Pol. Lt. Kittipong ordered the driver to stop the vehicle for inspection.
As the officers disembarked and moved to the hut, which is separated by a drainage ditch, a single assailant opened fire on Pol. Sgt. Maj. Hamran with an M16 rifle, and he fell to ground. The other officers then moved to confront the assailant, who upon seeing he was cornered, fled further into the palm plantation. Pol. Sgt. Maj.Witthaya was spotted chasing him and the assailant, hiding behind a palm tree, fired several shots, causing him to fall. A gunfight ensued, resulting in three more officers being wounded. Upon realising the police had radioed for reinforcement, the assailant fired shots to clear a path and, using his knowledge of the terrain, escaped.
After that Pol. Lt. Gen. Piyawat, commander of Provincial Police Region 9, ordered a combined force of military, police, and local administration personnel to surround and pressure the assailant, who is believed to still be hiding in the palm plantation. The area has been cordoned off as a danger zone, and unrelated individuals, including the media, are prohibited from entering the scene due to concern about their safety.
A source, a police officer at Tak Bai police station, revealed privately that one of the fleeing suspects may not be connected to anyone residing in the hut, but could be a member of a violent extremist group who sought temporary shelter under duress. The suspect allegedly fired shots upon encountering the officers, believing their group was being arrested. The authorities will continue their investigation.
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This and Front Page: Police investigating the spot where a gunman killed two officers and injured three others. Photos – Amarin TV
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