4 Militants, 3 Rangers Killed In 2 Separate Incidents In Narathiwat

PATTANI (Thailand), June 2 (Bernama) -- Four militant members of the Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) unit, a militant Islamic insurgent group operating in southern Thailand, and three Thai security personnel were killed in a shootout and bomb blast in Narathiwat, southern Thailand over the past 24 hours. 46th Rangers Battalion Commander Col Pasit Chanlekha said about 7am on Wednesday, three militants were killed in a 20-minute gunbattle with security forces in Bukit Air Keros, Chanek. "In a follow-up operation nearby, another militant was killed in another shootout which also left a Thai Ranger dead," he told reporters here Wednesday. He said several militants also were injured in the shootout, adding however, they managed to escape. Meanwhile, 4th Army Deputy Commander, Maj Gen Manee Chanthip said of the four militants, two were identified as Lukman Leterbering and Beraheng Awaemat while the identities of the rest could not be determined. He said Lukman and Beraheng were believed to have been involved in a militant attack on the Jok Irong Hospital in March this year, which left seven security personnel injured. He said security personnel also seized two M-16 high-powered rifles and two AK-47 rifles, medical supplies and 18 temporary huts on the hill. Meanwhile in the bomb blast on Tuesday, two rangers were killed while returning to their base in Ranget. Ranget district police chief Col Surapon Chatisuk said a bomb which was placed at a road-shoulder was triggered, causing the rangers to be injured before the duo were shot dead by unknown individuals. --BERNAMA