Three dead, two injured in southern violence
Former village headman assistant Chalee Samato and two of his friends were shot dead while another friend was injured in a drive-by attack on a teashop in Yala's Raman district, yesterday morning. Two rubber tapers were also wounded in a separate attack
Chalee and his friends were having tea at the shop at around 9am when assailants in an Isuzu pick-up truck opened fire at them with M16 rifles, before fleeing with the three victims’ pistols.
Police suspect the shootings are linked to insurgent violence and may also have been carried out to avenge the death of leading insurgent member Madari Tayeh on June 20 in Raman district. However, they said a local political conflict could still not be ruled out.
At 2am in Kabang district, two male farmers in their 40s were shot and injured in a para-rubber plantation in Tambon Bala. Police blamed separatists.
In Than To and Ban Hae districts, eleven security cameras were found destroyed.
Meanwhile, a special task force unit raided a rubber plantation in Tambon Yupo in Muang district where insurgents led by Loki Doloh were reportedly hiding, but only bomb making materials were found in the raid. The plantation owner was questioned, however, he maintained his innocence.
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