Policeman, son shot dead in South
A policeman and his 14-year-old son were shot dead in Pattani's Sai Buri district yesterday morning while riding a motorcycle to the son's Dechapattanayanukul School in Muang Pattani.
The attack took place at 7.30am on Tha Sadet Road in Tambon Taluban. Police found the body of Pol Sen Sgt-Major Sathaporn Khongphut, 51, with eight gunshots to the head, chest and torso. His son Patcharapong Khongphut, 14, had five gunshot wounds in the body. Police collected 18 spent cartridges from an M16 rifle, three 9mm bullets and two spent cartridges from a .357 calibre pistol.
Police said a group of gunmen on a pickup truck came close to Sathaporn’s motorcycle and opened fire at the father and son. One gunman then shot Sathaporn in the head and stole his 9mm gun, cell phone and motorcycle.
Police suspected the killings were the work of Runda Kumputlan Kecil (RKK) insurgents.
Previously, Pattani police chief Pol Maj-General Pichet Pitisetpan had warned officials in Pattani, especially in Sai Buri and Yarang districts, to be on the alert for RKK movement and exercise extra caution.
Pichet reported that after the Pattani Court issued arrest warrants for three suspects for attacks in Panare, Sai Buri and Kapor districts, police on Monday night raided several locations suspected of harbouring the fugitives Adnan Salae, Sakariya Sulong and Aliyasak Samo. They captured Adnan early yesterday morning.
