Blast rocks Narathiwat; police remove banners with separatist slogans
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A ROADSIDE bomb exploded yesterday in Narathiwat's Chanae district, while banners carrying separatist messages were found posted at several locations in two other provinces in the deep South. No casualties were reported from the bombing.
The home-made bomb, modified from a gas cylinder, was detonated using radio frequency targeting two police pickup trucks. The men on the pickup trucks were officers from Chanae Police Station, who were returning from a mission.
Meanwhile, in Muang district, banners carrying separatist messages in the English language were seen hanging near fruit orchards in tambon Khoke Khian. The banners were removed cautiously as police feared there may be bombs hidden nearby – a tactic often used by the insurgents.
The banners were also found put up in Yala’s Muang, Bannang Sata and Than To districts as well as in Pattani’s Muang and Khok Pho districts. As fake bombs were found near the banners in Yala’s Muang district, police took extra care in removing the banners.
The messages written with red markers criticised the authorities for discrimination. Police are checking the fingerprints on the banners to see if they match those of suspected insurgents on the police watch list.
