Angry ranger shot his team members: Army

Meanwhile, Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN)’s leaders, Hassan Taib and Adulkareem Kalib, appeared for the third time on a YouTube clip on Tuesday, asking the Thai government to stop attacks against people in the deep South people, especially imams, kamnan, village chiefs, religious teachers and local administrative officials.
A previous clip showed BRN member Hj Adam Muhammad Nur explaining the group’s five-point demands proposed earlier to the Thai government.
In the attack at 4.30am on Tuesday, initial reports said insurgents had ambushed a six-member patrolling team, leading to the deaths of Lance Corporal Ronnawit Singsai and paramilitary ranger Kriengsak Thooppudsa, both 31.
However, police later claimed that paramilitary ranger Sarawuth Khamphan, 21, had fired the shots that killed the two soldiers.
Mae Lan superintendent Pol Colonel Pitak Uthaitham said Sarawuth was made to re-enact the crime yesterday, while police confiscated his M16 rifle and summoned the other three paramilitary rangers for more details.
The victims’ bodies underwent a bathing rite at a Nong Chik district temple and were carried by a C130 aircraft to their hometowns.
Colonel Pramote Prom-in, spokesman for the Internal Security Operations Command’s front office, said many of the region’s security officials were under stress and supervisors had been instructed to grant them leave according to their shifts.
They were also advised to undergo mental health checks on a monthly basis.
Meanwhile, 30 insurgents dressed in military uniform attacked a military outpost in Tambon Sawor Administrative Organisation compound in Narathiwat’s Rusoh district on Tuesday.
The assault resulted in a 20-minute gunfight between 60 soldiers and the insurgents, who finally retreated. No deaths or injuries were reported.
Police yesterday collected some 100 spent rifle bullets and five spent M79 grenades from the scene. Officials say they suspect the assault was led by insurgent Abdullah Samama, 60.