Three Insurgents Killed, Three Rangers Injured In Southern Thailand

BY Jamaluddin Muhammad BANGKOK, Feb 22 (Bernama) – Three insurgents were killed and three rangers were injured in a 30-minute gunbattle in Penarek district the Pattani province in southern Thailand Tuesday. Penarek police chief Pol Col Manit Yimsai said seven insurgents attacked a group of rangers when the latter were setting up a checkpoint along Penarek-Saiburi Road at Kampung Naprau, Penarek at 11am. The deceased were identified as Cek Roslan Cek Umar, 27, while the identities of the other two, both believed to be 25 years old, had yet to be ascertained. The authorities also found two M-16 rifles near the bodies. "We have been alerted by intelligence reports that there might be an insurgent attack against the village head in the area. The rangers were well prepared for the task and managed to take down three insurgents," he said. He said four other insurgents managed to escape and that the authorities were hunting them down. About 5,000 people have died since suspected separatists resumed their armed campaign to seek independence for the three southern provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala eight years ago. -- BERNAMA'