SONGKHLA, Jan 4 — Police in the southern province of Songkhla have heightened security measures today as it is the tenth anniversary of a military weapons heist at an army camp in nearby Narathiwat province.
Police have strictly inspected cars and motorcycles at Ban Kuan Mued permanent checkpoint in Chana district and Ban To Nond checkpoint in Na Thawi district, which were the checkpoints before entering the commercial district of Hat Yai.
Defence volunteers and community volunteers were mobilised to man the checkpoints along other routes to Hat Yai for fear that insurgents may use minor roads to carry in explosives or weapons.
On January 4, 2004, military weapons were stolen from the Narathiwat Rajanagarin army camp at Pileng village, after which a number of suspects were arrested and jailed.
In Pattani, a police officer was killed and a defence volunteer was wounded in a gun attack at a tea shop in the provincial seat’s Bana subdistrict.
Police said Pol Sen Sgt Maj Maroseh Muna, 44, was shot in the head and died at the scene. A defence volunteer identified as Ismail Masae was sent to hospital after he was shot in his arm.
According to witnesses, the two victims were having tea in the shop while at least two assailants on motorcycle stopped in front of the shop.
One of the assailants walked inside and shot at the officer three times and stole his gun before fleeing the scene.
