Two defence volunteers shot dead by insurgents

YALA, February 5 (TNA) - Two defence volunteers were shot dead by armed insurgents early Sunday in the trouble-plagued Yala Province, officials said. The incident occurred when the victims road a motorcycle in Muang district to give protection to monks while taking alms and were attacked by not less than four insurgents belonging to notorious Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) group, officials said. Both sides exchanged gunfire and the insurgents fled the scene later, they said. The insurgents also took away two automatic rifles belonging to the defence volunteers. Officials said the RKK group operates in Yala and had planted bombs in the province several times, including killing soldiers while giving protection to monks three years ago. Meanwhile, soldiers and police set up permanent special checkpoints in nearby Songkhla’s Chana District to prevent drug smuggling to the three troubled southern provinces -- Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat. Suspected vehicles and travelers were searched. The search for drug smuggling comes after the Royal Thai Police has increased a budget amounting 20 million baht to police in the area after they were able to arrest several drug smugglers in the past. Police also plan to install surveillance cameras near the checkpoints in future. (TNA)