FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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‘Peace hero’ Islamic teacher shot dead in front of wife in Nong Chik

‘Peace hero’ Islamic teacher shot dead in front of wife in Nong Chik

An Islamic teacher, who been called a “peace hero” for his campaign to get Muslim insurgents to lay down their arms, was fatally shot in front of his wife inside his Islamic school on Wednesday night.

Ahwae Tohsatu, 55, the owner of Islamic Community Study Foundation School in Moo 5 in Tambon Pulohpuyo of Nong Chik district, was shot at the school at 9.30pm.
Police said five men wearing face masks attacked Ahwae when he was leaving the mosque inside the school with his wife, following a night prayer.
Police say he was shot twice in the body. His wife knelt beside him and begged the attackers to let him go but one of the gunmen shot him in the forehead and fled the scene.
He was rushed to a hospital but died soon after.
Nong Chik distrrict chief Ake Yung-apai said authorities would check eight spent shells of ammunition found at the scene to try to locate the attackers.
The district chief said insurgents have spread rumours that the five men were the authorities.
Col Pramote Prom-in, the spokesman of the forward command of the Internal Security Operations Command Area 4, said Ahwae had been cooperating with the ISOC Area 4 to try to bring peace to the region and was called a “peace hero”.
He has been an adviser for the command sine 2007 and played a role in solving several conflicts. Pramote added that the teacher has also helped convince several insurgents to lay down their arms and surrender.

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