NARATHIWAT: A Thai police officer and three men suspected of being members of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional were killed, while two rangers were injured in an exchange of gunfire in Si Sakhon district of Narathiwat this morning.
The internal security command confirmed that the gun battle occurred at about 11.30am local time in Kampung Tengor, Sibonpot subdistrict, when security forces on patrol tried to inspect a house believed to be occupied by members of a separatist group.
“When security personnel approached the house, they came under fire from a group of unidentified men hiding inside, triggering an exchange of gunfire,” the centre said in a statement.
A 51-year-old police officer with Si Sakhon police station was found dead at the scene. “Three men suspected of being BRN members were also killed inside the house,” the statement said.
Two rangers, aged 34 and 35, sustained gunshot wounds to the waist and back.