PATTANI, April 11 – Two soldiers were killed and six wounded in one incident as violence occurred overnight in 35 locations in eight districts of this southernmost province, including an assault on a defence volunteer unit, bombings, tyre burnings and fishing trawler bombings.
Insurgents attacked at about 8pm, when two trawlers were bombed and damaged.
The first fishing boat, named the Chok Surasak Montri, sank. The ship was berthed at a pier in the provincial seat. Some three minutes later, an explosion occurred at the second boat, Pornsawan 25, berthed at Pornsawan Pier in the provincial seat. No one was injured in either incident.
At about 8.30pm, police said three joint defence volunteer/village protection checkpoints on the Sai Buri-Kapho Road in Kapho district were attacked. Reinforcements rushed to the scene but the situation returned to normal and no casualty was reported.
At almost the same time, police were reported of attacks at many locations in Panare disrict including bombings at two public telephone booths. The suspected insurgents also attacked a defence volunteer unit. During the gun battle, some 10 military rangers were rushing on two amoured vehicles to support but they were hit by a roadside bomb detonated by insurgents.
The blast killed Lt Reungrit Photisa, the company commander and Sgt Maj 1st Class Sanchai Sophawang. Five rangers were wounded.
At Sai Buri district, a vocational training centre was torched, two power generation vehicles were burnt in Mayo district, and nine incidents of tyre burning were reported in Yarang.
Presumed insurgents also burnt tyres and CCTV cameras at Khok Pho district.
