One ranger wounded, four villagers killed in double insurgent attacks in southern Thailand

PATTANI, January 30 (TNA) - One ranger was wounded when an unknown insurgent group with an unknown number of men fired an M79 grenade at a paramilitary ranger base in Thailand’s southern Pattani Province Monday morning while four villagers were killed and five others were injured in a roadside attack on their vehicle later on. Local authorities said the attack took place at the ranger base in Nong Chik District’s Pulo Puyo Sub-district and one ranger was slightly wounded by fragments of the projectile. The authorities said in their pursuit of the attackers, they found a pick-up truck sprayed with assault rifle bullets on Highway 418 between Yala and Pattani provinces. There were four dead bodies and five wounded persons in the wreck of the vehicle. They believe the assailants in both incidents were the same group. According to the local authorities, the injured were taken to hospital and the funeral for the victims would take place at the mosque of Ban Tanyong Pulo village in Nongchik District. (TNA)